Project Overview
A steel mill relied on a 30,000-gallon open water pit as the makeup reservoir for their cooling water loop.
Over years of operation, the pit accumulated large quantities of debris—scale, slag fragments, trash, and general plant fallout.
Poor water quality was causing recurring pump failures, unplanned downtime, and increased maintenance costs.
Plant personnel needed a filtration system capable of cleaning the pit itself, not just protecting downstream equipment.
Project Requirements
Discussions with the customer highlighted several critical needs:
- Handle Extremely Dirty Water: The system would see the same large solids that were damaging their existing pumps.
- High Solids Throughput: The objective was to remove accumulated debris from the pit as efficiently as possible.
- Self-Contained Package: Pump, filtration equipment, controls, and operator access had to be integrated into a single skid.
- Reliable Operation: The system needed to survive abrasive debris and intermittent suction conditions.
Because the mission was to remove heavy solids from the pit, not avoid them, traditional pump protection measures (screens, strainers, baskets) were not suitable, the intake needed to ingest everything the pit contained.
Fil-Trek Solution
Fil-Trek designed a rugged, standalone filtration skid consisting of a slurry pump and large-capacity multi-bag filter housing.
Slurry Pump Selection
A heavy-duty 600 GPM slurry pump was selected, capable of:
- Passing 3-inch solids without damage
- Handling 20 feet of suction lift from the pit
- Operating reliably in abrasive service
This allowed the system to remove the full range of debris accumulated in the basin—no bypassing, no upstream screening, and no risk of plugging an intake strainer.
High-Capacity Multi-Bag Filtration
For solids loading well beyond typical process water service, Fil-Trek supplied a 14-bag LP Series Multi-Bag Housing, offering:
- Large debris holding capacity
- Reduced changeout frequency
- Straightforward service access
- Heavy-walled construction suitable for harsh industrial environments
The housing was paired with Mera Felt bag filters, selected for their durability and solids-loading characteristics in high-contamination applications.
Integrated Skid Assembly
The entire system was assembled on a structural skid that included:
- Slurry pump and piping
- LP Series 14-bag housing
- Operator platform for safe bag changeouts
- Electrical panel and controls
The unit was fully assembled, wired, and tested at Fil-Trek prior to shipment, allowing the customer to place it into service with minimal installation effort.
Basic Specifications
- Flow Rate: 600 GPM
- Pump Capability: 3" solids handling, 20 ft suction lift
- Filter Housing: LP Series, 14-bag configuration