ITE GeoSEP - the powerful dewatering screening machine for small-scale drilling operations
Illust.: ITE GeoSEP
CLEAR AIMS: Heat recovery without water losses
Geothermal energy is the energy stored in the form of heat below the surface of the earth. This can be recovered by means of geothermal probes and heat pumps and used for heating buildings. To this purpose geothermal probes are positioned underground at a depth of between 50 m and 150 m and extract the heat from the surrounding ground.
At these depths the temperature ranges from 8° C to 14° C. A heat transfer medium circulates in the installed geothermal probes which transports the heat energy to the heat pump in a closed circuit. The heat pump converts the low-temperature heat energy from the ground into heating energy.
As the drillings and the drilling water cannot be discharged into the groundwater orthe mains drainage system without previous treatment, they must be disposed of in compliance with waste disposal regulations.
This is often still carried out with an adequate number of settling tanks which serve for intermediate storage of the drilling sludge and discharged groundwater and permit sedimentation of the solids particles due to gravitational effects. Depending on the soil type, this process is very time-consuming and requires a large number of containers. The supernatant water can then be routed to the sewage or combined mains drainage system in compliance with public drainage legislation.
The limit values for filterable and settleable solids must be observed. Discharge into the rainwater drainage system or surface waters is generally not permissible. The drilling sludge is disposed of by means of pump trucks.
The separation systems designed for horizontal drilling and deep drilling rigs could solve this problem, but these are overdimensioned for small drilling works and are therefore uneconomical.
ITE GmbH from Wesel has developed a powerful dewatering screening machine to deal with this problem which employs fine screening equipment to treat the solids and water mixture when it is discharged from the drilled hole and returns the cleaned drilling water to the process without any considerable losses. Depending on the encountered soil types and drilling water additives, the solids content of the drilling water is minimised, and almost „clear“ water can be discharged into the mains drainage system.
A MATTER OF CLARITY: ITE GeoSEP
ITE GeoSEP is a mobile, powerful separation system designed especially for treating drilling water and for separating drillings and solids which occur when geothermal and small-scale drilling operations are carried out.
The innovative screening technology combined with a high acceleration force of the vibration screening system creates a recycling concept which also achieves separation of the critical fines and at the same time ensures constant drilling water properties.
With a total weight of 1,200 kg, the lightweight but still powerful ITE GeoSEP is suitable for continuous separation of particle fractions of up to 45 µm and therefore guarantees a minimum sand content of < 1 percent. In addition the modular design of the ITE GeoSEP can be easily extended by additional ITE modular components (e.g. with a hydrocyclone stage).
The practical hammer wedge attachment system permits fast replacement of the panel screens. Depending on the particle size and drilling water properties at the drilling site, the screening machine can be quickly and flexibly equipped with various screens with mesh gauges of 0.045 to 5 mm. This ensures an optimum separation and dewatering performance at all times, so that the treated water can be either returned to the drilling process or discharged into the mains drainage system.
IT’S CLEAR THAT…
- The dimensions and the weight of the separation unit enable practical handling of the machine at the drilling site.
- The ITE GeoSEP substructure can be transported by a conventional container carrier truck due to its standard dimensions and pin attachment.
- The double-decker vibration screening machine can be easily and flexibly equipped with ITE standard panel screens and hook-strip screens depending on the drilling water and solids properties. The screens are available with mesh gauges of 5 mm to 45 µm.
- The angle of the screening machine can be adjusted and adapted to the drilling water conditions and borne solids and also adjusted during operation.
CLEAR BENEFITS
- Less waste material – considerably lower disposal costs
- Water savings due to continuous treatment in the circuit
- Exact sampling possible at the site
- Lower power consumption due to economical vibration motors
- Lower solids loads in the circuit resulting in less wear
- Compact, lightweight, space-saving – simple installation on conventional containers
- Ideal for both fluid drilling and also pneumatic lifting processes
| Transport dimensions | |
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| Length: | 2370 mm |
| Width: | 2000 mm |
| Height: | 1400 mm |
| Total weight: | 1200 kg |
| Weight of removable screen basket: | 800 kg |
Technical specification
| Performance (max.) 50 m3 / hour |
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| Vibration motors |
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| Number of vibration motors: 2 |
| Capacity: 3.2 kW |
| Supply voltage: 400 V / 50 Hz |
| Hook-strip screen (top deck) |
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| Quantity: 1 |
| Screen area : Approx. 1.43 m2 |
| Panel screens (lower deck) |
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| Quantity: 3 |
| Screen area (total): Approx. 1.64 m2 |
| Adjustable deck angle: -3° to +3° |
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| Acceleration force (max.): 5 G |
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| Screening machine screen area (total): 2.9 m2 |
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