Rotary drum screens — a continuously rotating cylindrical mesh screen giving high capacity at very low head loss, with a gentle, fish-friendly option for water and desalination intakes.
Intake Screening for Water & Desalination Plants
A drum screen is a partially submerged rotating cylinder covered in mesh. Water passes through the mesh (outside-in or inside-out), debris is lifted on the rotating surface and spray-washed off at the top into a trough. Drum screens deliver very low head loss and high capacity in a compact package, and at low approach velocity are inherently gentle on aquatic life.
Rotary drum (and micro-) screens have been used for water and wastewater since the early twentieth century. For intakes, large-diameter drums became popular where a low-head, high-capacity fine screen was needed in a compact footprint — and where fine micro-mesh could remove algae and fine solids ahead of sensitive processes.
Configurations in service
Water enters the outside of the drum; debris lifted and washed at the crown.
Flow enters the open end and passes outward; debris held inside.
Very fine mesh for algae and fine-solids removal.
Large area at low through-mesh velocity protects fish and larvae.
An honest engineering assessment
Typical applications
Drum screens suit desalination pre-screening, surface-water abstraction, and micro-screening of algae and fine solids where low head loss and a compact footprint are decisive.
The full intake-screen series
A companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreA companion intake-screen type — design, history and trade-offs.
Read MoreThe screening stage of the seawater intake series.
Read MoreIntake design integrated with SWRO pre-treatment.
Read MoreThe full seawater intake hub — structures, fouling, materials.
Read MoreBar, band and drum screens across our range.
Read MoreOur engineers select and size intake screening — drum screens and the full train — matched to your debris load, fish-protection duty and downstream process.
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