SediCon enables environment-friendly sediment removal from tunnel sand traps

Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy in the world, accounting for roughly 16 per cent of the world’s power supply, and capacity is expected to grow. One of the major challenges facing hydropower is reservoir sedimentation, which reduces storage volume, energy output and discharge capacity, while increasing wear and tear on equipment and load on the dam.

There are several methods of sedimentation management, including desander basins and tunnel sand traps. These minimise wear and tear on the turbines by reducing water velocity and helping the sediment particles to settle. However, when the gathered sediment is discharged below the dam, power can be lost due to the high level of flushing water consumption. Moreover, when flushing, dam operators do not always have full control of the sediment discharge, which can give rise to environmental challenges.

The SediCon Sluicer is a gravity-powered sediment removal system that uses the special flow pattern created when water flows into the slot at the bottom of a desander or tunnel sand trap. The flow blends the water and sediments into an optimal mixture that slides to the slotted pipe at the bottom of the sluicer for removal. By the end of operation all material is removed.

The SediCon Sluicer handles a wide range of sediments, including debris and stones up to 200 mm. It has unlimited removal capacity and requires only a few cubic metres of water to remove each metric ton of sediment. Sediment release is controlled and gradual.

Because gravity is the driving force for the system, the SediCon Sluicer is virtually emission free. With no moving parts or need for power supply, it is highly reliable, requires minimal maintenance and is very easy to operate.

The SediCon Sluicer can be customised and optimised for new desanders and retrofitted to older desanders. The freely routed pressurised outlet pipe makes the sluicer suitable for both open and pressurised desanders., It is particularly suitable for pressurised tunnel sand traps..

Power production is uninterrupted as the SediCon Sluicer does not interfere with normal plant operation.

Hydropower produced from reservoirs is the only renewable power source that can balance and support new renewables such as wind and solar.

Global power demand is projected to increase by 60 per cent by 2040. Overall hydropower capacity is expected to increase by 125 GW by 2023. Rough estimates indicate that there is 10 000 TWh/year of available unutilised hydropower potential worldwide.

Established in 1999, SediCon has designed and installed its patented solutions for sedimentation management in 20 countries. The company also offers the SediCon Dredge, SediCon Desander Dredge and SediCon Gravel Excluder.