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How Sand Separation Works

Grit Removal Principles

Sand and grit in wastewater can cause serious operational problems including pump wear, pipe abrasion, and sludge handling difficulties. Our sand trap systems use aeration and centrifugal force to separate heavy mineral particles from lighter organic matter, producing clean, drainable grit for disposal.

Aerated Grit Removal

Fine-bubble aeration creates a rolling motion in the grit chamber, keeping lighter organic particles in suspension while allowing heavy sand grains to settle to the bottom for removal.

Centrifugal Separation

Circulating flow patterns create centrifugal force that concentrates sand particles in the outer collection zone for efficient removal with minimal organic content.

Air-Water Washing

Collected sand is cleaned in a wash bath where compressed air and water fluidize the sand, separating and washing away attached organic matter before final dewatering.

Autosep Sand Traps

Integrated Mechanical Treatment

DF MULTI SB/SP/KP Series

Autosep Sand Trap DF MULTI

Integrated mechanical wastewater treatment unit combining screening, sand separation, and fat flotation in a single compact device. Three model variants available: SB (rotary slotted drum), SP (fixed perforated sieve with brushes), KP (slotted grid with combs).

90-95% Sand Removal for grains >0.2mm

Key Features:

Three-stage treatment in one unit
Integrated sand wash bath with air-water cleaning
Fine-bubble aeration system
Flotate removal capability
Compact footprint vs. separate units
DF SB/SP/KP Series

Autosep Sand Trap

Combined unit with screening stage (SB/SP/KP variants), rectangular sand trap chamber with aeration, and fat collection. Sand removed via worm conveyor with organic content reduction up to 99%.

Up to 99% Organic Matter Reduction

Key Features:

Screening + sand trap + fat removal
Rectangular sand trap chamber
Worm conveyor sand removal
20-60% screenings drainage
DF SWB/SWP Series

Autosep Sand Trap Modular

Modular compact design combining screening and centrifugal sand trap. Wastewater filtered through SWB (slotted drum) or SWP (perforated sieve), then aerated in integrated sand trap with fat flotation.

90-95% Sand Removal for grains >0.2mm

Key Features:

Modular compact design
Centrifugal sand separation
Draining worm conveyor
Integrated fat flotation
DF BW Series

Autosep Sand Trap All-in-One

Complete mechanical wastewater treatment device with perforation sieve (1.0–10.0mm), centrifugal sand trap with aeration, integrated sand separator with air-water cleaning, and fat collection.

Sequential Perforation Cleaning

Key Features:

All-in-one design
1.0-10.0mm perforation sieve
Air-water sand cleaning
Screenings press compatible
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Sand Separation & Washing

Advanced Grit Processing

DF PSZ Series

Centrifugal Sand Trap With Sand Separator

Combined unit with internal ring creating circulating flow for sand separation via centrifugal force. Separated sand cleaned in integrated sand separator using air-water wash bath.

90-98% Sand Removal for grains >2.0mm
1
Circulation
2
Separation
3
Washing
4
Removal

Maximum 99% organic matter reduction ensures clean, odour-free grit suitable for landfill disposal or reuse.

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DF PSK Series

Centrifugal Sand Trap

Compact centrifugal separator with oval internal ring creating circulation. Fine-bubble aeration prevents organic matter sedimentation while supporting fat flotation. Sand-water pulp removed via air or electric pump.

90-98% Removal for grains >2.0mm

Key Features:

Compact oval design
Fine-bubble aeration
Air or pump removal
Small footprint
DF SW Series

Sand Separator

Stand-alone sand separator with internal circulation system. Features conical sedimentation section with optional slow-motion mixer and air-water flushing. Sand removed via angled draining worm conveyor (35–45°) with reverse motion.

Maximum 99% Organic Matter Reduction

Key Features:

Conical sedimentation section
Optional slow-motion mixer
Angled draining conveyor (35-45°)
Reverse motion cleaning
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DF PP Series

Sand Wash

Sand cleaning unit for highly contaminated sand. Slow-motion mixer shovels sand while water and compressed air flush away organic matter. Programmable controller adjusts cycles. Washed sand drained via worm conveyor.

Maximum 99% Organic Matter Reduction

Key Features:

Slow-motion mixer
Air-water flushing
Programmable controller
For highly contaminated sand

Efficiency & Compliance

Operational Benefits

Equipment Protection

Effective grit removal prevents pump wear, pipe abrasion, and damage to downstream equipment, extending equipment life and reducing maintenance requirements.

Reduced Disposal Rates

Up to 99% organic matter reduction produces clean, drainable grit with minimal odour, reducing landfill costs and environmental impact.

Improved Sludge Quality

Removing inert grit from the waste stream improves sludge dewatering performance and reduces sludge handling costs.

Compliance Ready

Proper grit removal ensures compliance with discharge standards and prevents operational issues that could lead to permit violations.

Applications

Industries We Serve

Municipal Wastewater

Critical grit removal at the inlet works of municipal treatment plants. Removes sand, gravel, and heavy particles to protect downstream pumps, aerators, and digesters from abrasion and wear. Essential for headworks facilities processing combined sewer flows.

Municipal WWTP Solutions

Metro & Tunnelling

High-efficiency sand separation for tunnelling dewatering operations. Removes abrasive sand particles from groundwater to protect pumps and enable water reuse or compliant discharge. Critical for TBM operations and shaft construction projects.

Metro & Tunnelling Solutions

Industrial Pre-treatment

Grit removal for demanding industrial wastewater applications streams containing sand, scale, and abrasive particles. Protects downstream advanced biological treatment, clarifiers, and dewatering equipment from damage and premature wear in food processing and manufacturing facilities.

View Pre-Treatment Solutions

Desalination Plants

Pre-treatment sand removal for seawater and brackish water desalination facilities. Removes coarse particles to protect downstream filtration and RO membranes from fouling and damage. Essential for intake water conditioning.

Desalination Plant Solutions

Mining & Minerals

Heavy-duty sand separation for mining operations and mineral processing. Removes coarse solids from process water, tailings, and washdown streams. Protects pumps and pipelines in challenging mining environments with high solids loading.

Mining & Minerals Solutions

Oil & Gas Industry

Produced water and process water sand removal for upstream and downstream operations. Separates formation sand and solids from oilfield wastewater to protect injection wells, pumps, and treatment equipment in production facilities.

Oil & Gas Solutions

Aeration & Oxygen Transfer

Aeration accounts for 50–70 % of a biological plant’s electrical Operating expenditure — designing it well is the single largest lifetime saving.

Optimise Your Grit Removal System

Contact our engineers to discuss your sand separation requirements and discover the most efficient solution for your application.

Automation & Control

SCADA Integration Available

SCADA & Control Systems

Our sand trap and separation equipment can be integrated with SCADA for automated sand removal cycles, level monitoring, and classifier control. Optimise sand removal frequency and track equipment performance from a centralised interface.

Automated RemovalLevel MonitoringClassifier ControlPerformance Tracking
Discover More About SCADA

API Separators — Engineering Deep-Dive

Stokes’-law sizing, API Publication 421 design methodology, rectangular API / CPI / TPI configurations and refinery-train integration.

Industries We Serve

Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.

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