As a result of internal displacement caused by the Russian aggression on Ukraine, the infrastructure of water supply plants in the country required urgent modernization. Most of the equipment currently installed in wastewater treatment plants in Ukraine comes from the 1970s – these are outdated technologies that, under previous loads, barely fulfilled their tasks. Therefore, their increased load could lead to numerous breakdowns and serious problems in the municipal sewage system. One of the facilities that faced the challenge of increased load was the wastewater treatment plant in Zhytomyr.
As part of humanitarian aid, in 2023, the International Organization for Migration funded the purchase of nine mechanical back-raked screens, manufactured by Esmil. The devices were installed at seven pumping stations. The delivery was handled by the company Eko-Invest, which is part of the Esmil Group. Each of the delivered screens was equipped with its own control cabinet and a complete set of components necessary for its installation.
Experience with the operation of Esmil back-raked screens – opinion of the wastewater treatment plant in Zhytomyr
We were extremely pleased when, after two years of operating the Esmil back-raked screens, the employees of the wastewater treatment plant in Zhytomyr decided to share their opinion with us. They pointed out several features that distinguish our devices from the previous types of screens used at the facility:
- Placement of the rake mechanism behind the filtration area: One of the key advantages of these screens is the placement of the rake mechanism behind the filtration area. This solution ensures that the mechanism comes into contact only with the treated water, which significantly reduces the risk of contamination and eliminates the possibility of larger objects getting stuck.
- Construction of the filtration area: The filtration area consists of bars distributed along the entire length of the screen, which are not fixed at the top. This solution allows the RP back-raked screens to effectively capture difficult-to-remove, fibrous waste, such as wipes, which are currently a significant issue in wastewater.
- Advanced level of automation: The automation system used in the RP back-raked screens by Esmil operates based on two main parameters: the level of wastewater and programmed time cycles. In the case of unexpected inflows of wastewater, the system responds immediately, effectively preventing overflow, while during minimal inflows, it automatically reduces the frequency of operation, allowing for energy savings.
Thanks to the modern automatic operation algorithm, Esmil back-raked screens offer not only a longer lifespan but also significantly reduce electricity consumption. Additionally, their operation is highly intuitive, making the operators’ work easier and more efficient.
Summary
The RP back-raked screens by Esmil proved to be a reliable solution that fully met the expectations of the wastewater treatment plant management in Zhytomyr. During operation, the devices demonstrated exceptional quality, reliability, and efficiency. Additionally, the plant employees appreciated the ease of maintenance, which requires minimal effort, significantly increasing user comfort. The RP Esmil screens had a key impact on improving the efficiency of the plant’s operations, effortlessly handling high loads.
