sump/basin clean

[bravhorn]

hi guys
i have a problem i need to carryout a clean of our cooling towers whilst on line. i can isolate one at a time as the system is balanced (there are 2 towers)but the problem comes with the sump as it is a common sump about 40000 ltr.is there any sort of vacum my water treatment company can run along the bottom to filter the sludge.
all help appriciated

thanks

 

[KiwiMace]

Yes, you pump the water out of the basin, through a cyclone filter or sand filter, and then back into the basin. Standard makeup should keep up with the losses from the filter. Depending on what kind of tower configuration you have, and the access they offer, this can be done without bypassing a cell.

 

[triniengineer]

Addition to KiwiMac's comment:
Often a chemical flocculant is utilized.

My tower basin is 1,000,000gallons and costs 70K to clean online.

 

[Chance17]

If the sump is outside the cooling tower, you can use an air lift pump.
I once worked at a plant that cleaned a 10-ft wide by 40-ft long river water intake sump once a year using this device.
The internal pipe was size 4". It had to be moved in about 6" increments to removed sediment.
Admittedly the job was physically demanding.
But it worked