Geotube dewatering tubes, sometimes known as geobags, are used for sludge dewatering projects of all sizes and there is good reason - simplicity and low cost.

There are no belts, gears, or complicated mechanics. Geotube containers use an engineered textile that is designed for dewatering of high moisture content sludge and sediment. They are available in many sizes, depending on your volume and space requirements.

FUNCTIONS

Geotube dewatering containers are supplied to site and placed into position. Sludge which is treated with specialist polymers is then pumped into the containers and the clear effluent water is then drained leaving the solid remains within the container. When full the containers can be disposed at a landfill or the solids removed and land-applied.

This simple but effective process makes Geotube dewatering containers ideal for the pulp and paper industries for primary and secondary lagoon cleanout and for mining processes to remove tailings, coal sludge and other minerals. Geotube dewatering containers have also been used for water and wastewater treatment dewatering to provide a reduction of up to 85% to 90% in BOD and in agriculture to efficiently manage waste in the dairy, poultry and other agricultural industries.

APPLICATIONS

• Municipal wastewater treatment plants
• Marine remediation
• Mining & mineral processing
• Power & utility
• Pulp & paper
• Light industrial
• Agriculture including the dairy industry, piggeries and abattoirs
• Aquaculture

ADVANTAGES

• High flow rate allows residual materials to dewater, whilst containing solids
• Custom fabricated with seaming techniques that withstand pressure during pumping operations
• TenCate pioneered the dewatering technology, spending years perfecting the technology and patenting circumferential seaming (which provides excellent strength for very large tubes under high pumping pressure)
• Supported by design advice and guidance on polymer use for your sludge
• Thousands of dewatering projects around the world have used Geotube units

INSTALLATION

Dewatering with Geotube technology is a three-step process:

Step 1: Filling

Sludge (dredged material) is pumped into the Geotube container. Environmentally-safe polymers are added to the sludge, which makes the solids bind together and water separate. The Geotube container's unique fabric confines the fine grains of the material.

Step 2: Dewatering

Clear effluent water simply drains from the Geotube container through the small pores in the specially engineered textile. This results in effective dewatering and efficient volume reduction of the contained materials. And this volume reduction allows for the repeated filling of the Geotube container. Over 99% of solids are captured, and clear filtrate can be collected and recirculated through the system.

Step 3: Consolidation

After the final cycle of filling and dewatering, the solids remain in the bag and continue to densify due to desiccation as residual water vapor escapes through the fabric. Volume reduction can be as high as 90%. When full, the Geotube container and contents can be deposited at a landfill, remain on-site, or the solids can be removed and land-applied when appropriate.