Transferring manure for anaerobic digestion and compost formation faces three main obstacles:
- Depending on the animal, the PH of the manure varies from 4 for ducks to 7.5 for pigs.
- The manure may contain foreign matter such as feathers, horn or hoof debris, cement rubble, identification ear notches, pieces of baler twine, various mechanical parts…
- When immobile, a crust forms on the surface, which can be very hard, especially in summer.
Our solution addresses all three of these issues:
- The PCR pump uses 316L stainless steel couplings and various types of rubber tubing, which retain their strength and suction capacity regardless of the manure’s PH factor.
- The reinforced fabric armature and straight tube design allow solid or stringy foreign objects to be absorbed.
- To avoid the formation of a settling crust, the manure is put into motion by a wave, generated by a mixer. In order to optimise the operation, the pump is equipped with a bevelled rod mouth at the end, which is inserted into the suction pipe.
Some fifteen PCR pumps have already been installed, in collaboration with specialist engineering firms for the transfer of manure. Some of the units convey the manure to a compactor located 700 metres from the recovery pit. A 100/110 mm diameter pipe is used for the discharge. The ‘Reverse’ function in the control cabinet is highly recommended, as it allows the pump to be reversed in the event of a blockage and the whole network to be cleaned if the system is stopped for a long period of time, such as when disinfecting cowsheds.
