A new way of utilising fibrous material separated from slurry is proposed by the Bauer Group company, FAN Separator – which subjects it to a drying and sanitising process, rendering the material suitable for use as cubicle bedding.

“This is cost-effective and environmentally friendly system that not only has the potential to reduce bedding costs but also to reduce a farm’s carbon footprint,” said Klaus Ferk, of FAN Separator. “It produces a dry and absorbent material available fresh every day from a process that kills potentially harmful bacteria.”

It uses a screw separator to extract larger undigested fibres from slurry and then a rotating barrel sanitiser in which a patented aerobic process dries the material at a temperature sufficient to eliminate any harmful bacteria – but without any costly external heat source.

“The material is safe and provides cows with a comfortable environment,” added Klaus Ferk. “And since the process runs automatically, it needs little intervention or management other than routine daily checks and maintenance.” Apart from having an impact on the cost of home-produced or bought-in bedding, the system can reduce slurry storage capacity needs by up to 20%.

Screen-type slurry separators

Alvan Blanch 01666 577333

Slurry fed into an inclined and rotating barrel screen constructed from woven and tensioned stainless steel wire mesh is separated into liquid and solid fractions by tumbling action alone. Adding optional dewatering screw reduces water content by further 10%. Two versions available Model 1600 with nominal capacity of 60m³/hr and Model 2200 with 100m³/hr capacity.

www.alvanblanch.co.uk

Linton Solutions 028 9262 1317

Carier Rotoscreen separator uses perforated stainless steel rotating barrel screen two pairs of rollers – one inside, one outside – to squeeze liquid from solids in slurry fed in from above. Two sizes: RS400 rated at 2-30m³/hr processing cattle slurry and RS1000 rated at 8-60m³/hr.

www.lintonsolutions.com

NC Engineering 028 3887 1970

Slurry enters NC Separator over a flow-regulating weir box than swept by rotating paddle brushes over first perforated stainless steel screen with liquid separation by gravity, then over second screen with solids squeezed by two rollers to extract liquid to storage tank or automatic field application system.

www.nc-engineering.com

Pollution Control 01772 620066

Groundhog slurry separator uses two static concave screens made from stainless steel with sweeping elements working on inner surface. Liquid free-draining by gravity in first section then squeezed by pair of rollers in second section. Two sizes that with nominal capacities of 26m³ or 10,000 to 13,000 litres/hr and 54m³/hr or 20,000 to 26,000 litres/hr. ‘Green Machine’ separator and automatic pumping/application system also available.

www.pollution-control.co.uk

Weld-Tech Engineering 028 816 47831

Sperrin’s single-screen (SP500) and twin-screen (SP1000) separators for static or mobile installation use two one-metre wide rubber-coated compression rollers and twin hard rollers either side of a rotating perforated, stainless steel screen to remove the liquid. The SP Turboflow 2000 stainless steel drum separator, features revolving brush and auto wash-down for pre-screening high liquid content slurries at more than 50m³/hr.

www.sperrinseparators.com

Screw-type slurry separators

Bauer UK 01628 788074

Bauer S665 and S885 stainless steel screw separators with choice of four stainless steel screen sizes and weight-adjusted extrusion regulator for choice of solids dry matter content up to typically 35%. Cattle slurry throughputs 20-30cu m/hr. FAN Press Screw Separator (PSS) in stainless steel and cast iron versions with capacities from 50 to 350m³/hr or 10 to 50 tonnes/hr dry solids.

www.bauer-at.com / www.fan-separator.de

Greencrop Irrigation 01328 701992

Two models of Wamgroup Sepcom separator with modular techno-polymer screw compressing solids against segmented diaphragm outlet. Outputs typically 4m³/hr and 60m³/hr with extended chamber versions optional.

www.greencrop.co.uk

Ocmis Irrigation 01460 241939

SWEA separator combines screen and screw separation technologies. It uses a de-watering unit comprising upward inclined brushed screen to remove approximately 60% of liquid fluid to feed a twin interlocking screw separator and produce solids with 45% dry matter at rates of m³ to 40m³/hr.

www.swea.dk