Vacuum Excavation

Suction trucks have come a long way over the years. However, despite the improvements and recent innovations, they have stayed true to their core technology – negative pressure.

There are many modern versions today but the core remains, it sucks out water waste and sludge using negative pressure. 

Let’s take a look at the various parts of suction trucks, how they work and what role they play in the overall dynamics of the suction truck.

Tank Can

The tank can is the centre cylinder of the tank body. It is made of rolled sheets of steel or stainless steel that is usually about a quarter of an inch thick.

Tank Head

The tank head is the end cap of the tank body that usually has a flange and a dish process. It is made of the same material as the tank can. The tank head is found at the back end of the tank body.

Discharge Port

The discharge port is where you connect the hose when the tank needs to be emptied. It is usually a 3 to 6 inch pipe that is connected to a lever, butterfly or ball valve.

The discharge port is usually found at the bottom part of the tank body and at the back.

Inlet Port

The inlet port is a 2 to 6 inch pipe connected to a lever, butterfly or a valve. It is usually smaller than the discharge port also located at the bottom part of the back of the tank body.

Sight Eyes

The sight eyes allow the users to view the load level of the tank. It is usually made of glass or plastic and is removable for easy cleaning.

Small and medium-sized tanks have one set of sight eyes while the larger ones can have up to three five-inch sight eyes. It is located in the upper part of the back of the tank body.

Pressure Gauge

This is a simple gauge that keeps track and indicates the level of vacuum or pressure inside the tank. It is usually located at the end of the tank body and at the top.

Access Port

Also known as the hatch is the access port of the tank. Its diameter ranges from 12 inches to 36 inches depending on how big the tank is. It is typically located on the tip of the tank body or at the rear end.

Vacuum Relief Valve

The vacuum relief valve is an important safety feature that is used to regulate the maximum vacuum level in the tank to reduce long term tank fatigue and the risk of tank collapse.

It also allows air to circulate inside the tank to cool the vacuum pump. It is typically mounted as close to the vacuum pump as possible.

Pressure Relief Valve

The pressure relief valve is another safety feature that is used to regulate the maximum pressure level in the suction tank.

Like the vacuum relief valve, it also reduces the risk of long term tank fatigue and tank collapse. It is mounted beside the vacuum relief valve.

Primary Shutoff

This is usually located at the top of the tank and serves as the first defence that prevents the tank contents from entering the pump and basically leak out.

The primary shutoff comes in different shapes and sizes and is paired appropriately with the vacuum pump.

Float Ball

The float ball floats on top of the content and floats up to the top of the tank when it is full. It is an indicator of the tank content. It is usually made of stainless steel or rubber-coated plastic.

Ball Seat

The ball seat is a gasket-like ring above the float ball that creates a seal when the tank reaches its full capacity.

Secondary Shutoff

A second component that also prevents the tank contents from entering the pump. Also made in different styles and sizes and is paired appropriately with the vacuum pump. It is usually located at the front end of the tank body.

Vacuum Pump

This is typically made of rotary vane vacuum pumps that create a vacuum in the tank. The vacuum pumps usually use 2 to 8 replaceable sliding vanes to move the air. 

Oil Cath Muffler or Oil Separator

The oil separator reduces pump exhaust noise level and separates the blow-by-pump oil for disposal. It is appropriately sized to match the vacuum pump and prevent oil from blowing out of the exhaust.

Tank Rails

These rails are usually either straight or tapered or sloped and support the bottom of the tank. They are mostly made of steel or iron.

Summary

Negative pressure is a simple technology but gets the work done. Today, we can see so many different versions of suction trucks – different innovations for different uses. 

At Pressure Works, we have a wide range of suction trucks ready to serve Melbourne and surrounding areas. 

IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES LIQUID OR SOLID WASTE REMOVAL, OR HYDRO EXCAVATION, PLEASE CALL US AT PRESSURE WORKS TODAY ON 0419 577 441 OR CONTACT US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.

You see them a lot, in commercial and residential areas. Suction trucks are a common sight on the road. However, we don’t really pay much attention to them until we need them.

Aside from collecting sludge, septic waste, and sewage, do you know what suction trucks are used for?

Suction trucks are large industrial trucks equipped with built-in holding tanks, pumps and suction hoses. They provide necessary services to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Main Uses Of A Suction Truck

• They are used to suction liquids, slurry and sludge. This is mostly done in construction sites during the phase of digging the foundation where water, slurry, and sludge needs to be removed as part of the construction process.
• They can be used to suction mining slurries and other liquid waste.
• They can be used to collect business and residential liquid waste, sewage and septic waste.
• Removal of water in water tanks and flooded areas.
• Can be used to clean mud in order to expose underground utilities and plumbing systems.
• Emptying water treatment tanks.
• Also used in industrial and municipal settings to suction water and debris from drilling jobs or hydro excavation projects.
• They can also be used for environment clean-ups and waste management.

Other Uses:

• Suction trucks are often used in rescue missions.
• Used to help in operations during environmental disasters.
• Can also be used to clean up hazardous waste or oil spills.
• Suction trucks are essential in quickly clearing and storing any dangerous toxic materials to prevent them from contaminating the environment and entering the waterways.

Suction trucks play an important role in keeping cities and suburbs safe and clean. You may not notice them but they play a vital role every day in helping to keep our communities and businesses clean.

Safety & Hygiene

Suction trucks and technicians are there to do the dirty work so you don’t have to. Handling dirty, dangerous, and toxic materials need the use of special equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). 

When you have liquid waste that needs disposal, don’t attempt to dispose of the waste yourself. Call a suction truck service right away!

Suction truck operators are highly trained to handle liquid waste and how to dispose of it correctly. Do not put your safety and health at risk, let the professionals do it.

Disposal Of Collected Waste

The government have strict rules and regulations that must be followed regarding liquid waste disposal. Suction trucks are not only in charge of removing liquid waste, they are responsible for the proper disposal as well.

Liquid waste can not go into the general waste stream. Depending on the nature of the water waste and the risk it poses to humans, animals and the environment, most liquid waste will not be released untreated. 

Once the liquid waste is collected, the suction truck will head directly to the proper disposal facility, which is usually a liquid waste treatment facility.

However, some water waste may be delivered directly to composting sites where the liquid is used as fertilisers while others are sent to the following plants:

• Sedimentation and Dewatering Plants
• Incineration Plants for toxic waste 
• Solidification Plants, etc.

Liquid waste handling is a messy business. The good news is, you do not have to worry about it. That is what suction trucks are made for. They are designed to handle your dirty business while you remain safe and clean from a distance. 

For your liquid waste removal needs, Pressure Works have a number of Suction Trucks ready to serve you anywhere in Victoria. When it comes to sucking up sludge and debris our heavy-duty sucker trucks we will get the job done fast.

We can even manage your liquid waste collection and removal. Whether it is cleaning out a range of drain or pit cleaning services, our vehicles make light work of the task.

IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES LIQUID OR SOLID WASTE REMOVAL, OR HYDRO EXCAVATION, PLEASE CALL US AT PRESSURE WORKS TODAY ON 0419 577 441 OR CONTACT US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.

Industrial sludge can be highly toxic, unpleasant to handle, and difficult to remove and dispose of correctly.

If you are faced with the issue of disposing of residual semi-solid waste products left over from industrial processes, then you should consider buying or renting the appropriate equipment to ensure the safe and successful removal of the waste.

The Challenges of Coping With Sludge

Sludge is difficult to deal with because it is often sticky or fibrous, and tends to dry out and adhere to pumps.

It is important that sludge is dealt with quickly because if it is allowed to get out into the environment it can be a danger to wildlife and to nearby residents.

The national guidelines for sewerage systems and biosolids management make it clear that businesses are required to manage their industrial waste.

This ensures that sludge is treated efficiently and that waste is minimal.

It is also important to try to separate contaminants at the source to ensure that the treatment is correct and efficient.

Vacuum Suction for Sludge Removal

It is not safe to simply ‘wash away’ sludge. It is important that sludge is separated from other less complex waste as part of its correct management and disposal.

Sludge should always be suctioned into sealed storage so it can then be taken to a waste treatment plant for proper disposal.

The industrial vacuums that are used to remove sludge are designed to be able to cope with the challenges of dealing with this type of waste.

Traditional water pumps may get clogged by fibrous or sticky waste, but vacuum suction pumps can handle heavy sludge and slurry with ease, making them a good choice for cleaning sewers, sumps, pits or tanks.

There are a number of health hazards associated with working with sludge and sewage.

Anyone who works in and around sewage is at risk of exposure to the contaminants.

Most people who work with sewage will be fortunate enough to only experience mild cases of gastroenteritis, but other more serious issues are possible.

For example, sewer workers are at risk of Weil’s disease and hepatitis.

It is for this reason that workers take extra care to protect themselves from exposure to the sludge, both through inhalation and skin exposure.

Gloves, footwear, eyewear, and respiratory protection are important. In some circumstances, a face visor may be recommended to help reduce exposure.

High Volume Removal Processes

Any sludge collected is loaded into a sealed container on a truck and transported to a treatment plant that can work with that specific type of waste.

Standard trucks can hold as much as 3,500 litres, but there are even bigger trucks that can transport as much as 20,000 litres.

The tanks on these trucks are corrosion resistant and suitable for carrying highly toxic materials.

The tanks are designed to be safe and secure and can work with small pumps for liquid waste as well as the bigger pumps that are designed to be used with more viscous or fibrous sludge varieties.

If you are worried about the safe handling of waste products associated with your project, then you should contact the relevant authorities to determine what your obligations are.

These authorities will be happy to advise you on your obligations. From there you can select the best transportation and extraction methods based on your needs.

Pressure Works are specialists when it comes to the removal of heavy sludge and other types of liquid waste.

We employ highly trained technicians and the latest technology to help remove most types of sludge and liquid waste that require correct disposal.

If you have a project that requires heavy sludge removal, please call us today on 0419 577 441 or contact us through our website https://www.pressureworks.com.au/contact/.

Not many people are aware of what vacuum loading is.

They may have seen such devices operating at construction sites, in cleaning operations and other industrial uses.

Vacuum loading makes for the rapid removal of waste from any space or vessel through the use of a vacuum.

The waste material that is extracted can be dry or in liquid form.

Most vacuum loading equipment is mobile and mounted on trucks that contain vessels to hold the waste.

This means that it can then be transported to the point where it needs to be finally disposed of.

This particular process of disposal is used to remove brick residue, concrete slurry, woodchips, and can even be used to remove clay in the wet or dry form.

Working in clay for excavation can be unsafe, because of the fragile nature of the soil that can lead to cave-ins and cause safety concerns for workers.

Vacuum removal can also save costs in these particular cases.

One area where vacuum disposal is very common is for the clearing of septic tanks.

In this case, the sludge collected from them is periodically removed and transported to waste disposal sites, so that the septic tank can be used again.

It can also be of great help in clearing drains, culverts and other places that need periodic cleaning and are relatively difficult to access.

Vacuum loading can also help in the clearing of oil spills so that further damage to the environment is avoided.

Vacuum loading is a very efficient process that is used extensively in a multitude of industries.

It can greatly help in the removal of materials and greatly reduce manual effort.

Vacuum trucks can perform a clearance task across many different settings and have the appropriate pumps of various capacities mounted on them.

These draw up the material that needs to be removed and transfers it to a tank or other receptacle that is mounted on a truck.

Those that are used exclusively for liquid waste removal will have smaller pumps, and those meant for solids that are heavier will require heavy duty pumps to create the vacuum.

Standard vacuum trucks have tanks that can hold over 3,500 litres. However, there are some monster trucks that can have the capacity to remove up to nearly 20,000 litres.

Tanks need to be made of materials that can safely carry the required waste without any fear of corrosion.

Vacuum loading is a process that is also part of many industrial processes.

This includes where set quantities of materials in liquid or powder form require to be moved around to be used at a particular point in the production of items.

Many of these loading devices are linked to sophisticated measuring and weighing systems.

These allow for the exact quantities of materials to be moved to the point where they are to be used.

You will find these loading systems widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and may also be of use in the food industry.

These systems are accurate, safe and can also greatly reduce wastage and lead to the correct combinations of materials as required.

Pressure Works is one of the best vacuum loading specialists in Melbourne.

They employ highly trained technicians and the latest technology to clean all sorts of blockages from stormwater drains through to domestic water pipes.  

If you are looking for reliable and experienced water jet and vacuum services to clean your drains and pipes, please call us today on 0419 577 441 or contact us through our website https://www.pressureworks.com.au/contact/