Underground Infrastructure - November 2023 - 32

Rehab Technology
A blown toilet typically occurs when an operator rushes
up the sewer line with minimal cleaning on the first pass.
This results in excessive debris on the return trip through the
same stretch of sewer line. Air flow from the nozzle then compresses
between the nozzle and the debris, creating significant
positive pressure. When the debris passes by a home's service
line, the pressurized air blasts up and out of the service line,
causing a blown toilet.
" Lowering the pressure and reducing the risk of a blown
This " football skid " represents an innovation in lightweight skid nozzle
stabilizing attachments and is enabling sewer crews to move up the line
more easily than ever.
toilet can be particularly effective when cleaning shallow manholes,
which are more prone to the issue, " he noted.
Story demonstrated the effectiveness of this technique
when invited by a city on the West Coast.
" Previously, the city was challenged with a blown toilet
problem at a home that occurred virtually every time they
cleaned a certain line. They asked, 'How can we fix this?' We
went in at 1,000 PSI with an aluminum nozzle and skid, and
cleaned the entire sewer line without blowing the person's
toilet, " said Story.
To accommodate the range of sewer pipes in the field, KEG offers
aluminum skids in 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-inch sizes for use with aluminum Tier
3 nozzles.
up the line. The 'football' shape and the slick plastic fins also reduce
friction, allowing the skid to pass over common sewer pipe
obstructions, such as protruding taps, offsets and deflections.
" If it hits a deflection in a pipe, for instance, it will 'climb on
top' of the next step and keep on going, " said Story.
The approach enables superior sewer line cleaning with
significantly less power, PSI and water, which translates into
some important advantages in the field.
Better cleaning at lower pressure
Cleaning sewer lines at lower pressure reduces the load on
vacuum trucks. Toward this end, using a lightweight aluminum
skid improves nozzle maneuverability to keep the jetted
water stream centered within the pipe and focused where it
needs to clean.
Just as important, it allows the operator to lower the vacuum
truck's RPMs, allowing them to better conserve the vehicle's
fuel use as well as decrease mechanical wear and tear.
" Operators can essentially run the vacuum truck at idle if
they are using an aluminum skid and nozzle. They do not have
to crank up the truck's RPMs. Instead, they can effectively
clean sewers with as little as 1,000 PSI at 35 gallons a minute.
It's going to be a game changer for cities, " said Story.
Another benefit of sewer cleaning at lower PSI is reducing
the risk of " blown toilets, " which can leave sewer material on
the floor and toilet seat, upsetting homeowners.
32 NOVEMBER 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Alternatively, the approach can provide more cleaning power
on tough jobs, such as accumulated grease at restaurants.
" The sewer line on a street with a fast-food, hamburger
restaurant was full of grease. A municipal supervisor doubted
the cleaning effectiveness of using an aluminum skid and nozzle.
He couldn't believe his eyes when the technique quickly
liquified the grease, " he said.
To accommodate the range of sewer pipes in the field,
KEG offers aluminum skids in 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-inch sizes for
use with aluminum Tier 3 nozzles. There are several tiers of
nozzles, rated for water efficiency: Tier 1 (about 30-percent
efficient), Tier 2 (50-to-60-percent efficient), to Tier 3 (75-to98-percent
efficient).
What sets the most efficient Tier 3 nozzles apart from others
in the category is fluid mechanics engineering on par with the
aerodynamics of race cars or jet fighters. In the case of the company's
aluminum Tier 3 nozzles, such as the Royal, Cleaning
Torpedo, and Aluminum Traction, the high-performance fluid
mechanics design leaves little room for power losses and excessive
turbulence.
By more effectively containing, controlling, and directing
high-pressure water with less turbulence, an aluminum Tier
3 nozzle can deliver more cleaning power at lower PSI. This
eliminates the need for operators to compensate for the lack
of power from Tier 1 or 2 nozzles by increasing the pressure to
higher PSI on the way back through the line. Ultimately, less
PSI facilitates safer, more efficient sewer cleaning that complements
the use of an aluminum skid.
As municipalities and contractors seek to easily clean sewer
lines with fewer resources, taking advantage of innovative aluminum
skids and nozzles that enable superior cleaning at lower
pressure with less water will become a best practice strategy. UI
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
KEG Technologies, (866) 595-0515, kegtechnologies.net
http://www.kegtechnologies.net http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - November 2023

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