An innovative new sewer cleaning Jet-Vac machine with continuous water recyclingmakes its public debut at this week’s CV show in Birmingham. One of four vehicles ordered by the Anglian Water Group (AWG), the new “Kaiser-Whale” is set to bring anew environmental dimension to sewer maintenance operations in the Anglian Water region.
Developed by Whale Tankers in technical partnership with Kaiser AG, the Kaiser Whale takes a totally new approach to heavy duty jetting machine applications using recycled water. The specialist 26 tonne GVW machine, mounted on a Volvo FM9 6×2 chassis, recycles the water it uses during jetting operations, maximising time spent on site working and thereby minimising time spent off it taking on supplies of fresh water.
Whale Tankers were able to demonstrate to AWG the cost savings as a result of the faster overall job times that could be achieved by investing in a Kaiser-Whale with its recycling technology, in addition to other significant operational, environmental and economic benefits.
The Kaiser Whale features the Kaiser KDU 148 High Pressure Water Pump assembly,providing significant benefits over conventional water recycling machines. Instead of adding additional filtration to a more traditional type of unit, the KDU pump operates at a much slower speed (50 times slower than a typical triplex pump), which greatly reduces the wear on the pump as well as making it significantly quieter in operation.
The large pump cylinder capacity delivers high flow and pressure performance – up to500 l/min at 2,900 psi in the case of the AWG machine. As a fully integrated assembly – incorporating a jetting pump, a pressure accumulator, oil reservoir/cooler and tipping ram housing – weight is significantly reduced, with attendant payload advantages.
Hydraulically driven and controlled, water pressure and flow is independently adjustable, with a pressure accumulator maintaining a constant water pressure. Hydraulic load sensing means that when jetting stops and pressure is reached, the pump stops until water demand is reinstated, further improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
The KWP High Performance Liquid Ring Pump featured on the Kaiser-Whale provides important weight savings thanks to its compact design and aluminium construction. The liquid ring within the casing is Teflon coated, with permanently lubricated bearings reducing abrasion and extending service life of the pump unit.
The use of aluminium in the vacuum pump allows the unit to be positioned at the front of the vehicle, providing optimal weight distribution. In addition, the unit is submerged in the front sealing water, reducing the amount of pipe work on the vehicle and providing both a natural form of cooling and noise insulation.
The Kaiser-Whale uses a single stage filtration system, further reducing weight and reducing maintenance requirements for cleaning of filters. The design of a special wedge-shaped 500 micron stainless steel mesh in a large circular shaped filter drum means that a high volume of water can pass through the filter thanks to the large screen area.
A low pressure flushing system provides continuous cleaning of the filter when jetting and water recycling operations are in progress, with an external centrifugal pump drawing water through the filter at a rate of 800 litres/min. The constant clockwise to anticlockwise rotation of this Rotomax filter reduces the possibility of blockage, which is further aided by the shape of the “trislot” filter mesh.
The Kaiser Whale features a hydraulically operated dividing door inside the tank which gives the vehicle even greater operational flexibility and further eases maintenance.
For AWG’s operations, the vehicle has been fitted a “spiral disc” cassette type of boom. In addition to a 300° rotation, it gives the machine the ability to reach depths between 6m and 7m without extension, reducing the amount of manual handling required in operation, as well as the need to carry additional extension pipes on the vehicle.
Located at the rear of the vehicle, the hydraulically operated Whale “Mega Reel” provides a highly effective and manageable means of handling the heavy duty hose and is capable of holding up to 180m of 1¼” or 200m of 1” rubber hose.
