Title: Development and performance testing of 'Comb Separator', a novel sewer overflow screening device

Authors: Md. Abdul Aziz; Monzur A. Imteaz; H.M. Rasel; Donald Phillips

Addresses: Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia ' Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia ' Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia ' Water Solutions (Aust) Pty Ltd., Heathmont, Melbourne, VIC 3135, Australia

Abstract: Rivers and creeks receive a lot of sewer solids due to sewer overflow. This overflow causes a serious concern for the environment, aesthetics and public health. To manage such sewer overflow, different types of screening device were developed. The initial expense, maintenance costs, poor sewer capture efficiency and blinding on the screen were discussed as the limitations of these overflow devices. Most screens had electro-mechanical systems that were expensive, complex and caused concern for possible malfunctions in unstaffed remote locations. Consequently, a novel sewerage overflow device 'Comb Separator' was conceived, developed and tested. Optimum criteria were achieved for the device using trial and error method; robustness of the experimental set-up was tested to reproduce consistent results. There was minimal blockage on the screen and higher capture efficiency than Hydro-JETTM. The 'Comb Separator' has a good application potential to improve the sewer solids capture in the urban sewerage system.

Keywords: capture efficiency; sewer solids; screening devices; optimum experimental setup; sewer overflow screening; water pollution; screen blockage; capture efficiency; urban sewerage systems; urban sewers; sewage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2015.073033

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2015 Vol.16 No.3, pp.248 - 261

Received: 10 Nov 2014
Accepted: 17 Jul 2015
Published online: 12 Nov 2015 *

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