My First Machine — Replacing a Lamella clarifier Without Touching the Pipes
Context of the project (Tunisia)
Replacement of an obsolete steel lamella clarifier with a compact, gravity-fed stainless steel module, without touching the pipes.
Project information
- Tunisia
- 2020
- Technologies
- Lamella clarifier
- Integration
Without touching the pipes
Fittings taken identically.
- How it works
100% gravity-based, autonomous
Without pump or electricity.
- Exploitation
Visual & manual control
Visual inspection, manual valve.
- Conception
Durable low-tech stainless steel
Simple materials, light maintenance.
Project Background
On an industrial site in Tunisia, a highly corroded steel lamella clarifier was reaching the end of its life. It had to be replaced quickly without interrupting operations in the long term and without modifying the existing networks: inlets, outlets and piping slopes. The new equipment also had to be more durable and chemically resistant.
Objectives
To design a compact stainless steel lamella clarifier, capable of connecting as a plug-in to existing pipes, without civil engineering or piping work. Optimising separation efficiency and sludge management, while remaining 100% gravity-based, without energy or automation, and keeping manufacturing and commissioning times to a minimum.
Technical solution
Compact stainless steel lamella clarifier, custom-sized to take up the existing inlets, outlets and slopes exactly. Stacking of inclined lamella to increase the settling surface, reduce the residence time of the sludge and limit the footprint on the ground.
Hydraulics designed for 100% gravity-based operation: no pump, no automation. Sludge management by manual gravity purge, visual control via transparent hose and device dedicated to floating sludge to secure the quality of the water at the outlet.
CNC prefabrication & modularity
Tanks and internals made in the workshop, from standardised stainless steel components, adjusted to the site’s dimensions. The unit arrives ready to install, which greatly reduces the construction time and the hazards of on-site assembly.
Modular and duplicable design: the same hydraulic principles and modules can be reused at other sites or for export, with only a few dimensional adjustments when the environment requires it.
On-site implementation
Removal of the old steel decanter and installation of the new stainless steel lamella clarifier, sized to take up exactly the existing inlets, exits and slopes. Hydraulic connections made without reworking pipes or civil engineering, then tests with clear water to validate the levels and gravity flow.
Organization of the site to limit downtime: short intervention, maximum prefabrication in the workshop and reduced adjustments on site. The commissioning consisted mainly of adjusting the sludge purge and validating the visual control with the operator.
Results
Replacement of a corroded clarifier with a compact, durable and chemically resistant stainless steel unit, perfectly integrated into the existing networks. The 100% gravity-based operation eliminates power consumption and reduces the risk of breakdowns related to automation.
The operator benefits from simplified sludge management (manual purging, immediate visual inspection), rapid commissioning and high separation performance for a controlled footprint. The solution can now be duplicated on other sites with the same “plug-in” principle.
Operation & Maintenance
Fully gravity-based operation: the operator monitors the sludge level via the transparent hose at the foot of the tank and triggers the purge from time to time by simply opening a valve. The floating sludge system completes the effluent management and secures the quality of the water at the outlet.
The low-tech design limits sensitive components: no pump, no automation, few wear parts. Stainless steel and standard components reduce maintenance to a few visual operations and regular purges, which are easy to integrate into the operating routine.
Key figures
- 100% gravity-based — no pumps or automations
- 1 bleed valve — simple manual control
- Visual inspection – transparent hose to track sludge
- Stainless steel — durability and chemical resistance
Product focus: Compact lamellar decanter (DLC)
To intensify the settling in a small space, we integrated a compact DLC lamella clarifier.
With its 8 m² of sprayed area, 3 mm self-cleaning lamella and optimised settling volume, it offers high clarification while remaining very compact.
Its modular design allows you to add industrial water storage, sludge storage and floating evacuation according to your needs, while keeping maintenance simple and structured.
And to limit the initial investment or meet a temporary need, this model is also eligible for leasing with an option to buy, a flexible solution for testing the equipment on site before making a long-term commitment.
- High compactness
- Simple maintenance
- 3 mm self-cleaning slats
- Small footprint
- Efficient clarification (suspended solids, metals, greases)
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Compact lamella clarifier DLC
Lamella clarifiers
Steps to collaborate
- Audit of the concrete structure — surveys, reinforcement, access and constraints.
- CNC-ready design — wall plans, drilling, inserts and interfaces.
- Manufacturing & logistics — preparation of the kit and delivery of the DOM-TOM.
- Assembly, Testing & Commissioning — on-site assembly, testing, safe start-up.
- Operations training — upskilling your teams.
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