Jim Myers & Sons, Inc. designs and manufactures flocculation equipment that provides for mechanical flocculation. A number of types of mechanical flocculation systems have been successfully used for various flocculation applications. These designs include horizontal shaft paddlewheel, vertical shaft paddlewheel and walking beam.


Horizontal Shaft Flocculators

Horizontal paddlewheel flocculators consist of horizontal line shafts, drive units and paddle wheel assemblies. The shaft is installed either perpendicular to the direction of flow or parallel to the flow. Horizontal flocculators installed parallel to the flow can be designed to produce tapered flocculation by varying the size and spacing of the paddlewheel assemblies over the entire length of the shaft. Similarly, horizontal flocculators installed perpendicular to the flow can be designed to produce tapered flocculation by utilizing different sized and spaced paddles on each of line shafts. The shafts typically operate at different speeds with each successive shaft operating at a lower speed than the preceding one. The drive unit of the horizontal shaft flocculators may be mounted in a dry well adjacent to the flocculation basin or on a platform above the water level. The dry well design incorporates a stuffing box to eliminate leakage between the wet basin and dry well. The drive unit mounted on a platform above the water level utilizes a chain and sprocket drive arrangement. Horizontal paddle wheel flocculators can process greater volumes of water with fewer drive units.


Vertical Shaft Flocculators

Vertical paddlewheel flocculators consist of vertical shafts, drive units and paddlewheel assemblies. Counter current or concurrent rotation to water flow can be provided based on the design rotation of the vertical flocculator. Vertical shaft flocculation allows for easier compartmentalization due to its vertical shaft, single reel design. In order to minimize short- circuiting in flocculation basins, a minimum of three compartments are recommended. A serpentine flow pattern, horizontal and/or vertical, further helps minimize short-circuiting. Compartmentalized flocculation basins also allow flexibility for varying velocity gradient values and for taking units out of service for maintenance with little effect on the performance of the entire flocculation process. Support bridges are required for vertical flocculation units and concrete or fabricated or aluminum bridges can be provided.  Fabricated support bridges should be designed and provided by the flocculator manufacturer to ensure that the bridges are designed to withstand all loads imposed by the equipment.


Walking Beam Flocculators 

Walking beam flocculators consist of horizontal line shafts, drive units, "walking beams", paddle support assemblies, and paddles. The paddles are moved up and down in a reciprocating motion by means of a drive motor, gear reducer, torque arm assembly, connecting rod and riser beam which converts the circular motion of the drive output shaft into linear motion. All the bearings, drive mechanisms, line shafts and guide devices are located above the water level which allows for maintenance access at any time. Walking beam flocculators can be designed to ensure the entire basin is effected by the flocculation process minimizing short circuiting. The flocculator line shaft can be installed either perpendicular to the direction of the water flow or parallel to the flow. Tapered flocculation can occur in either flow direction.