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Hycor® Rotoshear® Internally Fed Rotating Drum Screen / Hycor Helixpress Dewatering Screen Conveyor - Anheuser-Busch, TX

Problem

In an effort to control the increasing cost of utilities, Anheuser-Busch installed anaerobic pretreatment at more than half of its twelve domestic breweries. In 1999, the Houston brewery commissioned its pretreatment system, which incorporated several novel technologies. One of these was the Hycor Rotoshear Screen.

A major consideration in the system design was the control of coarse solids, such as grain and label pulp, in brewery wastewater. Ineffective solids screening will negatively impact the biological process. Anheuser-Busch used several other screen designs in earlier systems, but was not satisfied with performance, reliability and maintenance costs. Anheuser-Busch employees visited a Rotoshear® installation at a malt house in order to evaluate this equipment.  The screen was efficient, operated automatically, was neat and clean and only required periodic routine maintenance.

Solution

Based on its research, the brewery selected the Hycor Rotoshear screen for its ability to handle continuous large flows, peak surges and a variety of solids. The Rotoshear is also automatic and would not require a dedicated operator.  With this, Anheuser-Busch specified a Rotoshear screen to Paques, Inc. whom they commissioned to design and install the entire system.

Two Rotoshear screens, Model HRS6096MHD x 0.040", were selected.  The engineer specified heavy-duty units for the flow, which averaged 3000 GPM per unit twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and the exclusive Hycor® medlow headboxes to handle the high concentrations of solids. In addition, the screen had automatic sprays that were set to wash the cylinder down during operation.