RMB Enterprises retires a 16-year old LWT heavy-duty radio remote controlled dredge with an updated LWT design.
In 1999, RMB Enterprises purchased their first Liquid Waste Technology, LLC (LWT) radio-remote controlled dredging system. The system was specifically designed to operate in a wastewater lagoon at a steel manufacturing facility in Ohio.
After years of dedicated and uninterrupted service from the dredge, RMB Enterprises decided to retire it for an updated LWT radio remote controlled PHE20 with newer technology and higher operating efficiencies.
RMB Enterprises specified that the new dredging system should be designed to perform at an operating depth of 25 feet (8m) and be capable of pumping steel mill slag along with other process materials a total distance of 350 linear feet (107m). The elevation rise would be 20 feet (6m) into a two plate press dewatering station.
Given these criteria, LWT’s engineers designed a dredging system which included two 30 foot (9m) length carbon steel pontoons, a NEMA 4X Electrical Enclosure, and a shrouded auger head equipped with high torque hydraulic-powered motors.
In addition, LWT configured the dredge with a heavy-duty high chrome electric-driven 20 HP (14.9 kW) submersible centrifugal slurry pump capable of moving the abrasive mixture the total distance to the plate presses. The flow capacity was rated at 300 gpm (68,137 l/hr) with a total dynamic head of 60 ft (18m). The pump’s discharge was sized at 3-inches (76mm), allowing a maximum solids capacity of 1.8 inches (45mm).
LWT’s design further includes a 15-HP (11.2 kW) electric-over-hydraulic power unit to control the traverse and ladder winches along with dual auger motors capable of producing 6000 in-lbs (677.9 N-m) at 60 RPMs. This system also benefits from LWT’s Auto Sense electronic controls feature which provides predetermined distance parameters for precise dredging operations. The new dredging system’s power requirement is 460 Volts, 60 Hz, 3-Phase.
As a result of incorporating these features into their system, RMB Enterprises is now receiving the benefits associated with reduced cost of operations and improved production output.
LWT’s Field Service Manager Rick Leverty commissioned the dredge and witnessed the dredge’s performance along with staff members of RMB Enterprises. The new dredge system can fill the two plate presses in 20 minutes, producing up to 24 tons per truck at 90% dryness. Eight truck loads later, the dredge can be credited for 192 tons of product per day.