This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with North Ridge Pumps.

For anaerobic digestion plants in particular, the challenges include maintaining feedstock supply right through to maximising total process efficiency.

This drive for better performance led one anaerobic digestion (AD) plant operator to contact Notts-based pump specialists North Ridge Pumps. They were looking for ways to ramp up transfer rates, reduce fertiliser use and utilise digestate throughout their farm more efficiently.

Digestate is an impressive fertiliser containing all the nutrients and micronutrients needed for successful modern farming, including potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Moreover, none of these important nutrients are lost during the AD process. This means that farmers can reuse these essential minerals, and close what they call the nutrient cycle.

In fact, digestate brings big benefits to modern farming – and the environment. It can drastically reduce the use of artificial fertilisers. According to the UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association, 1 metric tonne of artificial fertiliser replaced by digestate saves a remarkable 1 tonne of oil, 108 tonnes of water and 7 tonnes of CO² emissions.

Digestate can do all of this and massively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural feed, food and beverage sectors. That’s because organic fertilisers like digestate release very low (or even zero) greenhouse gas emissions during production compared with energy-intensive mineral fertilisers.In short, using digestate instead of synthetic mineral fertilisers made from natural gas can save energy, cut fossil fuel consumption and reduce our carbon footprint. 

In this application, the AD plant operator wanted to boost the rate of transfer from their digestate pond to a nursing tank at their AD plant. The liquid being moved was mechanically-separated anaerobic digestate containing only 5% solids, small amounts of sand, plus screed less than 1mm in size.

They were extracting the digestate liquid from a lagoon 4m in height and 18m away. The digestate transfer pipeline was over 300m long and fed into the nursing tank, and digestate tanks.The operators wanted to double their existing flow rate up to 200m³h and hydraulically mix their lagoon at the same time. They were looking for a heavy-duty transfer pump of proven design and reliability to achieve this.

What pump was specified?

North Ridge Pumps have over 25 years of experience in providing engineered pumps for a range of applications. Their specialist pumps are used across a wide range of industries and sectors handling fluids as diverse as fuel, chemicals, food, slurries and sludge.

With over 100 successful commissions for UK and international clients, North Ridge can specify from a wide range of pumps for a variety of industrial and commercial environments. For this particular job they specified their XR625 – a 6” Solid Handing Self Priming Pump which was built and supplied it in just over 6 weeks.

The XR pump range are heavy-duty self-priming pumps which are efficient and extremely durable. They easily handle solids thanks to the armoured volute which surrounds the double curved impeller and protects the pump casing from wear.

What’s more, that double curved impeller boosts pump efficiency. Here for instance, the existing site pump achieved a flow rate of just 100m³h with a 25kw motor. The new North Ridge pump delivered 200m³h with a motor power of only 18.5Kw.

In addition, North Ridge advised the client that to maximise output flow, they should run the pump at 60Hz through a frequency inverter to achieve the required flow and pressure.

Protected against corrosion

Another important factor to consider was the material properties of the digestate being pumped, which can be extremely corrosive. When specifying the pump, North Ridge made sure that all internal parts were easily accessible and weren’t held in place by screws which can corrode and need replacement over time.

According to Zac Paull at North Ridge Pumps this was a tricky specification needing careful consideration, “This was quite a challenge, but thanks to our application expertise across numerous sectors, we can specify from a wide range of pumps – and we’re not tied down to just one type of pump technology. We can develop a bespoke solution, not something picked off the shelf. This means that every time we’re asked, we can select the most appropriate pump for that application at the lowest lifetime cost.”

If you have an upcoming application and are unsure of the correct solution, call North Ridge Pumps on 01773 302 660 or visit www.northridgepumps.com to see how we can help.

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd.. (Above) Densoclad 70 Tape is applied over the bitumen-based primer (inset) before the whole system is encapsulated with Denso Glass Outerwrap.

A bitumen tape wrap system from Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd was utilised for the repair of damaged pipework at the new HS2 terminus at London Euston train station.

Following damage to the existing factory coating, corrosion had already begun to inflict damage upon the pipe and had propagated underneath the coating itself, causing it to delaminate. To eliminate further damage, the Denso Bitumen Tape Wrap System was applied to not only protect the pipe from the effects of further corrosion, but to provide a large degree of mechanical protection too.

Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd are leading manufacturers and suppliers of corrosion prevention and sealing systems. The bitumen tape wrap system supplied for the project was comprised of a bitumen-based primer (Denso Primer D), a heavy-duty PVC-backed bitumen tape (Densoclad 70 Tape), and a protective outerwrap (Denso Glass Outerwrap). The protective outerwrap offers exceptional mechanical and impact strength for buried pipes exposed to aggressive backfill conditions. Once applied and fully cured, the whole system provides a long-term protective coating that is ready for immediate service.
www.denso.net

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with The WJA Trade Show.

A new trade show dedicated to the industrial and commercial applications of water jetting is to be held in London in September.

The Water Jetting Association, the member organisation for the UK’s water jetting industry, is holding the free-to-attend event at the StoneX Stadium, North West London, on 12th September 2024.

The WJA Trade Show has already captured significant interest with 70% of the exhibition stands available snapped up.

Water jetting has become a vital technique widely used for cleaning, surface preparation, hydrodemolition, materials cutting and in the water industry for sewer unblocking.

Industries that rely heavily on water jetting include petrochemicals processing and oil and gas exploration and production for pipe, tank and process vessel cleaning.

WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “The water jetting industry is developing rapidly, so we believe now is the time for a trade show dedicated to its growing number of service suppliers, many of them WJA members, and customers.

“This is an important opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their capabilities and shape the future of our industry.

“We’re very pleased with the response, and we have more enquiries coming in from prospective exhibitors all the time. We’ve opened online bookings for free tickets and take-up is strong.

“We’ve made this a free-to-attend event so as many interested people as possible can come along and see the advantages of water jetting, and how important it is to use the technology safely.”

WJA Training and Safety Committee Member Lee O’Callaghan, one of the event organisers, said: “An exciting range of exhibitors are already booked to attend from the UK and overseas.

“The WJA Trade Show will be the place to see the latest developments in water jetting in all its forms, from pressure washing up to ultra-high pressure jetting, and all its applications.”Become an exhibitor or book free tickets for the WJA Trade Show. See the URL below.
www.waterjetting.org.uk/tradeshow

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Castle Water.

Could your wastewater be more valuable than you think? Water retailer Castle Water explains, below.

No matter the industry you are in, you will need to deal with wastewater at some point. Whether you end the day with gallons of industrial effluent or simply dirty dishwater from the office coffee pot, make sure your water is being safely treated before reentering the water supply. Castle Water can help.

Waste treatment plans
Castle Water’s partners employ a meticulous three-stage process to treat and filter your wastewater. This not only ensures your business meets all necessary regulations but also means your business contributes to clean water sources. An initial filtration captures any object larger than 6mm before the water moves onto the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary stages of the process, which will ultimately result in safe water being released back into our rivers.

What about the gold?
Research has shown that in large cities, precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and copper find their way into biosolids and can be worth up to $13 million every year. In fact, a waste treatment plant in Japan has reportedly extracted more gold than would normally be forthcoming from an actual gold mine, all from the ashes of incinerated waste sludge (this is what is extracted in the primary stage of the wastewater process).

Talk to the experts
If you want to find out more about how you can make your trade effluent and wastewater process more efficient and environmentally friendly, give Castle Water a call today on 01250 718718. The group is a market leader in the field of trade effluent billing. You could soon be making savings that rival that Japanese gold mining treatment plant! Reach out today and find out how Castle Water can streamline your wastewater processes.
www.castlewater.co.uk

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with T-T Flow.

Government-backed funding saw a Stockport site become the first in the UK to be retrofitted with an innovative new technology that boosts biogas production by up to 20%. Valves play a critical role in its deployment.

The Stockport Sludge Treatment Centre in Greater Manchester processes over 600 m3 of sludge from local wastewater treatment facilities every day. Anaerobic digestion (AD) transforms the sludge into biogas that is used to produce electricity to power more than 1200 homes p.a.

As part of the retrofit, T-T Flow were asked to provide a complete valve package, including knife-gate valves, swing-check valves and fast-acting relief valves.

The supplied relief valves are set to play a crucial role in on-site safety. Given the pressure produced by the system’s AD processes, the need is all the greater to lessen the likelihood of surge events like water hammer occurring. Flow inefficiencies, damage to infrastructure and explosions are all potential consequences of not effectively managing system pressure. The self-acting relief valves mitigate the risk. Calibrated to maintain the desired pressure, they operate by opening when this pressure is exceeded and discharge excess fluid to avoid an over-pressure event.

T-T Flow have specified relief valves that respond quickly and reliably to pressure fluctuations, featuring fast-acting annealed springs and a smooth, lightweight internal profile that minimises operational resistance. To guarantee long-term operational reliability within the corrosive environment of the sludge treatment facility, the chosen valves are comprised of a high-strength/low-weight ductile iron body, a precision machined stainless steel seat, and A2-70 stainless steel fasteners.

ttpumps.com/products/valves

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Dräger.

Ryan is a Fixed Gas Detection Regional Account Manager based in Wiltshire, responsible for Dräger’s Fixed Gas Detection customers in the South-West of England. Ryan joined the FGDS Dräger team in March.

How are you finding things with the Dräger team so far?
I’ve only joined the team a little less than a month ago but so far, it’s been great! I’m learning a lot about the company, its values, all the interesting safety products we have, and getting to know my co-workers. We have a fun team here in Dräger’s Fixed Gas Detection Team and they’ve been very welcoming and helpful while I’m getting up to speed. It’s made my first few weeks here a great experience overall and I’m happy to have joined the Dräger team.

It’s great to have you onboard, Ryan. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I am Wiltshire born and bred, however I do not own a combine harvester or tractor. I maintain a very active lifestyle, exercising and eating healthy, and I’m passionate about Crossfit – both in participation and in coaching. I coach children and seniors. In fact, my youngest athlete is 7 and my oldest is 83, so that shows you that anyone can do it! I am a firm believer that everyone should just get up and move as much as they can. I also enjoy Football and Jujitsu, as well as taking trips to Old Trafford with my nephew. And you can’t beat a good holiday to take some time to refresh – even if it’s just a short break!

I know it’s still early in your time with Dräger, but what do you think about the company and its contributions to the industry?
I still have much to learn about, but I really appreciate Dräger’s approach to safety and the value it puts on using technology to create products that keep people safe from harm. It’s so interesting to me to think that Dräger has been around for more than 130 years and still coming up with new ideas all the time, utilising wireless and smart technology to stay in line with industry needs and employing cloud storage to make it easier to access and transfer data.

Do you have a favourite Dräger product yet?
I do! I’m really impressed with the Dräger X-node. It’s a wireless gas detection product that can measure gas concentration levels, temperature, humidity, pressure – pretty much everything you need! Being wireless is obviously a huge benefit since the customer doesn’t need to worry about connecting the X-node to wired power or a cable for transmitting data, so you can install it virtually anywhere you want to, and the rechargeable battery is reliable for up to 12 months. And you can access the X-node via a Bluetooth-connected device to make adjustments or access data.

What can your customers expect from working with you?
I’ve always been a people person and I naturally fell into a junior sales role at 19. I enjoyed working in sales and was good at it, so I’ve stuck with this type of role trying different products, from glass radiators to luxury holiday homes. Once I moved into technical sales about six years ago, I knew I’d found my feet. I enjoyed meeting and working with a variety of customers, helping them with their projects and offering them real solutions. I love the variance in customer sites too, already I have visited a dairy, a well-known crisps maker and water treatment works. It’s great. Now I get to learn all about new products and services from Dräger and meet new customers. I get a lot of satisfaction from meeting new people, hearing about each customer’s unique challenges and then offering a suitable solution. It makes for an exciting and rewarding experience at work!

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Puraffinity.

Puraffinity, which develops precision technology for the removal of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ across multiple water treatment applications, has appointed Pete Weaver as its Chief Operating Officer.

Pete joins Puraffinity from digital printing technology provider Domino Printing Sciences where he was Group Fluids Operations Director responsible for Domino’s global fluids manufacturing operations, including plants, in the UK, US, India and China. Prior to that Pete worked for Philadelphia headquartered FMC Corporation, now one of the leading global agricultural sciences companies, in the UK, USA and China.

At Puraffinity, Pete will be responsible for developing the manufacturing and supply chain functions, ensuring the company has robust supply chains in place to deliver its products to customers when and where they need them.

“I am excited by the opportunity to work with Puraffinity’s talented and dynamic team as we push forward towards solving one of the world’s major sustainability issues – PFAS contamination of water,” said Pete Weaver. “I want to use my skills and experience to ensure we not only provide our customers with exceptional levels of quality, safety and customer experience, but we also deliver some lasting good for the planet.”

Pete Weaver has a BEng in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham and has experience across all aspects of operational management including manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and logistics, R&D, Quality and Health Safety and Environmental management.

“With the ongoing market pull for more renewable high performing adsorbents to tackle PFAS, we recognise we need to develop an efficient and effective manufacturing system,” said Puraffinity CEO Henrik Hagemann. “Bringing Pete into Puraffinity fits perfectly with this key need and Pete stood out as a hugely people focused manufacturing expert who can accelerate our operational excellence across the company. We’re thrilled to have him on board.”

“It was clear Pete cared about joining a business that has an environmental focus and a mission he believes in,” said Sally Kennard, Puraffinity’s Talent and People lead.

www.puraffinity.com

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with MegaGroup.

MegaGroup Trade Holding BV, the holding company of wholesalers of water technic solutions in Western Europe, has acquired Anchor Pumps, a leading pump specialist in the UK supplying both B2B and B2C companies. The acquisition equips MegaGroup with further know-how and experience in pumps while Anchor gain opportunities for growth in the UK and abroad.

Anchor is a distributor of domestic, industrial, and commercial water pumps, including shower pumps, booster pumps, heating pumps, submersible pumps, and home water booster sets. It is the largest online pump distributor in the UK supplying over 1,200 customers, both B2B and B2C, with a warehouse and office based in Warrington near Manchester. Anchor outperforms the competition in terms of customer satisfaction with a 4.8-star rating (excellent) on Trustpilot. Membership of MegaGroup brings Anchor (and its customers) many cross-sell and growth opportunities.

Bernard Verburg, CEO of MegaGroup Trade Holding BV said he had been “impressed by the way Anchor has managed to serve their customers” and that they had achieved such a high level of customer satisfaction. “Anchor’s experience and knowledge on pumps are a huge asset to the group.”

Warren Holmes, Managing Director of Anchor Pumps, said he was proud of the way the firm had grown its network. “MegaGroup offers us the opportunity to grow even further, professionalize and add new products to our range. I am confident that we will have a successful future together.”

MegaGroup want to grow their network in Western Europe through both organic growth of existing MegaGroup companies, and acquisition. The group continue to seek opportunities to add knowledge and market share to strengthen their business. MegaGroup has extensive experience in acquisitions in the water technics market, including 2021 acquisitions epco and Plimat.

www.megagrouptrade.com

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd.

On recent revisits to two Steelcoat 100/400 System applications in the Northeast of England, Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd. were proud to confirm that both applications were performing as expected, providing exemplary protection from corrosion over a decade since their installations.

The Steelcoat 100/400 System consists of Denso Hi-Tack Primer, Denso Profiling Mastic, Denso Hi-Tack Tape, Denso Ultraseal Tape and Denso Acrylic Topcoat and offers an excellent long-term coating solution for exposed steel and pipework – particularly in areas faced with damp conditions. The system requires minimal surface preparation and is easy to apply, making it ideal for use in remote or difficult to access areas where preventing contamination of the surrounding environment is of the utmost importance.

Winn & Coales pride themselves on the longevity and effectiveness offered by the complete and correct applications of their innovative products and systems. The revisited Steelcoat systems – originally applied in 2008 and 2010 respectively – serve as demonstrable proof of their enviable track record of success and affirms their position as industry leaders.

Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd are leading manufacturers and suppliers of corrosion prevention and sealing systems and celebrated 140 years of service to industry in 2023.

www.denso.net

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Hiden Analytical.

Hiden Analytical, a global leader in quadrupole mass spectrometers for advanced research applications and specialist process monitoring, proudly announces the launch of its next-generation gas analyser – the QGA 2.0. Representing the future of gas analysis, this state-of-the-art system is designed to surpass the remarkable success of its predecessor, the original QGA.

“In the introduction of QGA 2.0, we are not merely progressing; we are setting a new standard for gas analysis,” states Peter Hatton, Managing Director of Hiden Analytical. ” Incorporating feedback from our valued clients and addressing the industry’s stringent demand for precision, the QGA 2.0 represents a significant advancement in terms of both performance and user experience.”

Features and Advancements of the QGA 2.0
• Lightweight Design: Our engineers have streamlined the device, resulting in a significant reduction in weight and footprint, making it ideal for a wider range of applications and environments.
• Enhanced User Experience: Built with the user in mind, the QGA 2.0 boasts a more intuitive interface, user-friendly software, and advanced troubleshooting guides.
• Environmental Stewardship: Committed to a greener future, the QGA 2.0 is designed to have a reduced environmental footprint, without compromising on performance.
• Powerful Features: The system is laden with advanced features that elevate its performance and versatility. From faster response times to increased sensitivity, the QGA 2.0 stands as a testament to Hiden Analytical’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Applications of the QGA 2.0 Include: carbon capture, hydrogen analysis, environmental monitoring, gas Production & storage, fuel cell studies and TA-MS. For more details, technical specifications, or to schedule a demonstration, visit the URL or contact info@hiden.co.uk, +44 1925 445225.

hidenanalytical.com