Municipal wastewater plants with combined sewers or industrial loads will require greater dewatering capacity. Different sizes of Grit Snail^® units, or multiple Grit Snail^® units can be configured to match any grit load.

The Grit Snail^® design includes an abrasion-resistant belt housing and components with no metal-to-metal contact. The variable frequency drive adjusts belt speed to match changing grit loads. The torque-limiting clutch protects the drive system and belt from mechanical overload.

Applications

• Non-turbulent dewatering for clean grit output from a SlurryCup™ or TeaCup^® System

Advantages

• 304 stainless steel construction
• NEMA 4X valves & stainless steel control panel
• Variable frequency drive
• Belt rinse system

Grit and fine abrasives are discharged by a grit washing unit into the Grit Snail^® clarifier, where they settle onto the slow-moving stepped cleats. The captured solids are gently lifted out of the clarifier at 1-5 feet per minute. Degritted water flows out of the clarifier via an overflow weir. Dewatering begins as the grit and fine abrasives are quiescently raised from the clarifier pool to retain fine grit. The dewatered abrasives are carried to the top of the Grit Snail^®, where they are discharged into a disposal container for landfilling.

A slowly moving cleated belt gently escalates the grit from the clarifier, retaining fine grit, unlike turbulent dewatering systems which reintroduce captured grit back into the plant. The Grit Snail^® is designed for durability and ease of maintenance, resulting in a very long product life and trouble-free operation.

Q. What is the Grit Snail^®?

The Grit Snail^® is a quiescent dewatering escalator suited for capturing the fine grit output from a HeadCell^®, SlurryCup™, or TeaCup^®.

Q. What are the advantages of the Grit Snail^®?

Many types of dewatering systems combine washing and dewatering in the same process. This introduces turbulence, which stirs up the captured fine grit particles allowing them to be released with the effluent water. The slowly moving belt of the Grit Snail^® pulls the fine grit particles from the clarifier water without agitating the water, thereby retaining even very fine grit particles. 

Q. Can the Grit Snail^® be used with other types of grit removal devices?

No, the Grit Snail^® is designed specifically for dewatering clean grit output from Hydro International’s high performance separation and washing devices. Other systems will output grit with high organic content and cannot be dewatered by a Grit Snail^®. Alternatively, systems may not capture the fine grit particles that the Grit Snail^® are designed to retain – and would not require the performance of the Grit Snail^®.

Q. When should we select a Grit Snail^® and when should we select a Decanter for a dewatering system?

As a general rule of thumb, larger plants will typically require a Grit Snail^® system. In many smaller plants, a Decanter system will provide the required dewatering performance more cost effectively. Multiple Decanter units can be used to increase capacity or to facilitate disposal of captured grit. Contact Hydro International to determine whether a Grit Snail^® or a Decanter dewatering system is the optimal choice for your plant.