High requirements despite slow movement

Basic flizz for primary clarifiers in Plauen
In the large sewage treatment plant in Plauen, our basic flizz system reliably supplies the scraper bridge with energy. It replaces a motorised cable reel, and since then the energy and signal supply of the primary clarifier has been running smoothly. The new system - a ready-to-install combination of energy chain and stainless-steel enclosure - was specially developed to meet the requirement profile of sewage treatment plant operations.

Primary clarifier at the Plauen sewage treatment plant

Special environmental conditions for energy chain
The movable scraper at the primary clarifier, which travels on a gantry above the primary clarifier, takes several minutes each time to convey oils, fats and the settled sludge to the end of the basin, where all of it is pumped off and fed to the treatment plant. This means that the axes do not run every second. Despite the low speed, this is not a "low end" application for moving pipework, however. On the contrary: The energy supply system has to function all year round outdoors in 24/7 operation - in frost, strong sunlight, in corrosive, sometimes aggressive environments and with minimal maintenance.

Wanted: alternative to the motorised power reel
The conventional solution for this application is a motorised cable reel that travels on the scraper bridge and rolls the cable up and down synchronously with the position of the scraper. However, such a system can cause problems, as those responsible at the Plauen sewage treatment plant realised. Andreas Schubert, Wastewater Master and in charge of a master craftsman's area at the plant operator ZWAV (Zweckverband Wasser und Abwasser Vogtland): "As the cable is placed on top of the basin, it can twist and even freeze in frosty conditions. It is then run over by the scraper and has to be replaced."

This happened several times in Plauen, where the wastewater from around 70,000 residents and the local industry is treated, and led to high repair costs: The cables are adapted to the adverse environmental conditions and are correspondingly expensive. In this situation, the sewage treatment plant operators looked for alternatives.

basic flizz on 58 m travel in Plauen sewage treatment plant

basic flizz: standard solution for sewage treatment plant technology
One of the companies approached was igus - good timing as a new standard for sewage treatment plant technology had just been finalised: Our basic flizz system - a complete solution for mobile energy supply to scrapers, screens and other sewage treatment plant systems. It consists of an E2 energy chain, which is filled with the tried-and-tested chainflex cables and guided safely and smoothly in a weatherproof stainless-steel housing. The compact and robust system is suitable for floor and wall installation, allows travels of up to 200m and has been developed from the ground up for many years of trouble-free operation with minimal maintenance.

The e-chain transports energy and signals to the scraper bridge

Installation on the inside of the basin - trouble-free operation
This, as well as the price-performance ratio, convinced the operator of the sewage treatment plant in Plauen, so that nothing stood in the way of the installation. A number of special features were taken into account in the offer. For example, the primary clarifier at the Plauen plant is relatively long at almost 60m, and the movable energy supply system had to be installed on the inside of the basin. Corrosion resistance is therefore extremely important here, as is operation that is as free from maintenance and wear as possible: the basic flizz is not accessible without draining the basin.

The new system was installed in summer 2013 and has been running smoothly ever since. Says Schubert: "No problems have occurred. With the motorised cable reel, we would certainly have had at least one more accident."

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