AD operators and water companies with anaerobic digestion facilities seeking to cut costs and optimise their operational processes are looking with increasing interest at technology which can reduce maintenance costs by up to 80%.

Image:Landia's externally mounted GasMix AD digester mixing at Tullamore WWTW

According to anaerobic digestion specialists Landia, specifying mixing equipment located on the outside of a digester will deliver substantial reductions, compared with poorly designed systems which have moving parts very inconveniently installed inside the digester.

A typical service of Landia’s GasMix Digester Mixing System, based on two externally-mounted pumps, takes as little as 1.5 hours, twice a year, compared to 8 hours for equipment located inside the tank.

All of the mechanical components of the unique mixing system for anaerobic tanks on biogas plants are located outside the tank – making it unnecessary to open the tank either for servicing or repairing the system.

Other benefits compared to traditional, mechanical mixing include quicker and cheaper installation, as all components are placed on the outside of the tank. The Landia GasMix GasMix also delivers a more efficient anaerobic  process and a quicker gas production.

Low maintenance costs are a particular feature of the technology - the externally mounted mechanical and electrical components can be serviced from the outside without emptying the tank. This also ensures no prolonged downtime for operators because the tank will never have to be emptied in order to inspect or service the mixing equipment.

Paul Davies, Key Account Manager at Landia commented: 

“For AD operators with mixers located inside the tank, the substantial service saving of more than 80 per cent does not include the loss in revenue from gas production, or take potentially very serious health and safety risks into the account.  These include having to work from height, plus the cost of scaffolding, breathing apparatus and potential crane hire.  This can be anything in the region of £5000 to £15,000”.

He added: 

“AD operators should therefore look very closely at these additional equipment costs that are required to service poorly designed systems which have moving parts very inconveniently installed inside a digester.”

“The bottom line is that an externally-mounted digester mixing system makes big savings on maintenance, as well as being much safer”.