ITT’s Flygt N-hydraulic Adaptive Impeller Technology Eliminates Wastewater Pump Clogging

The technology was introduced at the Singapore International Water Exposition. The new impeller moves axially to enable easy trash flow–virtually eliminating clogging under the most difficult of conditions. This impeller is now available for small Flygt N-series pumps from ITT’s Water & Wastewater business.

“This is a giant step in the development of our N-range for wastewater pumping,” said Ulf Arbeus, R&D Director of ITT Water & Wastewater. “The patented solution is quite simple but the benefits for the operators of pump stations are remarkable. Reliability and energy efficiency can now be significantly improved compared to present conditions. We are very excited to show this to the users out there.”

The new technology works like this: when trash enters the volute, the patented N-hydraulic pushes it from the center to the perimeter of the inlet. The new adaptive functionality makes it possible for the Flygt N-impeller to also move axially, enabling very large detritus to get through.

The innovative Flygt N-3085 features an adaptive impeller that significantly enhances the well-known anti-clog characteristics of the Flygt N-series. The impeller design coupled to a specially developed relief groove is self-cleaning. The patented combination dramatically reduces clogging risks, and has been used for 10 years at more than 500,000 installations worldwide.

Adaptive impellers now take the industry one step further. “Extensive trials in Europe and North America prove that Flygt N-pumps equipped with adaptive impellers not only eliminate major clogging problems but also have longer service intervals of up to four years,” says James Ahrgren, Product Manager at ITT Water & Wastewater.

In New Mexico, for instance, the new Flygt N-technology completely eliminated clogging at the main treatment plant serving the capital city of Santa Fe. Not one instance of clogging has occurred at the main clarifier scum. A Flygt N-pump equipped with the adaptive impeller easily coped with huge amounts of trash like plastics, rags, baby wipes, straws and much else.

“We are more than impressed ,” said Santa Fe plant superintendent Luis Orozco. “My team no longer has to deal with the messiness of removing a pump and unclogging it and summoning a vacuum truck. The adaptive impeller innovation saves lots of time, money and headaches.”