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MacIntosh Services

Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit

BETHLEHEM, PA—MacIntosh Services is one of the largest commercial linen rental supply companies in the scenic Lehigh Valley area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. From its headquarters here, the company supplies not only table linens and cloth napkins, but also uniforms, chef's apparel, aprons and towels to restaurants, hotels and other facilities throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In order to process this large volume of laundry, the company uses over 90,000 gal (340,650 l) of clean water a day. In fact, MacIntosh Services is the largest single user of municipal water in the Bethlehem metropolitan area.


Recycling reduces water consumption

In the course of its operations, the company generates up to 75,000 gal (283,875 l) of wastewater a day. "We try to recycle and reuse at least 40 percent of the wastewater we generate," says Gary Shaffer, Chief Engineer.

In 1996, MacIntosh Services installed a 48 in. (1219 mm) diameter VIBROSCREEN circular vibratory screener from Kason Corporation with an 80-mesh screen to remove most of the larger solid waste particles before treating the wastewater using standard aeration and flocculation procedures. "The residue from the screener contains all sorts of solid waste, including not only lint, but also food particles, corks and even gloves," says Shaffer.

The circular vibratory screener separates bulk solid materials from solids and slurries using multi-plane, inertial vibration that causes particles to pass through apertures in the screen while oversize particles travel across the screen surface in controlled pathways to the screen periphery where they are discharged. The in-line model installed here features one imbalanced weight gyratory motor mounted directly beneath the screening chamber and operates continuously.


Internal hollow rings prevent screen blinding

A Kleen-Screen rings anti-blinding device prevents fibrous, stringy and sticky materials from blinding the screen. The multi-plane inertial vibration of the screener causes the rings to move continuously across a perforated stainless steel plate, shearing fibers and scraping away gummy materials. Because they are hollow, the rings promote product flow over the entire screen surface, maximizing screening efficiency.

The untreated wastewater enters the first compartment of a two-compartment wastewater pit, then is metered into the Kason screener. The screened water discharges into a 1250 gal (4731 l) storage tank from which the water is pumped through a four-pass heat reclaimer to preheat incoming city water. The wastewater then is pumped to the second compartment of the wastewater pit, pumped again to a 5000 gal (18,925 l) storage tank, and then to the wastewater pretreatment system.


Recycle screening deck increases capacity

As the business continued to grow, the volume of wastewater generated began to exceed the capacity of the 48 in. (1219 mm) diameter screener. "We really needed to go to a 60 in. (1524 mm) unit, but the space we had available simply did not permit it," says Shaffer. "Our solution was to add a Kason recycle screening deck on top of the existing screener, increasing its capacity from 100-150 gal (378-568 l) to 225-250 gal (851-946 l) per minute without increasing its diameter. Retrofitting our existing screener also undercut the cost of purchasing a new 60 in. (1524 mm) significantly."

Positioned directly above the screening deck, the recycle deck has a screen of identical mesh. The upper screen deck is fed with more material than it can efficiently screen. Material passing through the upper screen deck is directed to the unit's discharge outlet. The overflow, along with all oversize solid particles, is directed from the upper screen onto the lower screen of the same mesh, where it is screened in normal fashion.

The effluent is treated in an on-site aeration and flocculation facility to remove solid waste, then returned to the City of Bethlehem to be further treated and added to the municipal water supply, or reused at MacIntosh Services. The solid waste is removed in the form of sludge, which is dewatered and pressed into cakes. "We remove 300-450 tons of sludge a year," says Shaffer. "In fact, the water that we treat and return is sometimes even cleaner than the city water we use originally."

"Rapid changes in technology continue to affect every aspect of our business," says Owner and CEO Rodgers. "We continue to invest our resources in new technologies that will help us streamline our operations, increase our efficiency and improve customer service."

 

 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
Soiled linens are sorted, laundered, then folded and prepared for distribution to more than 3500 customers.
 
 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
MacIntosh Services generates up to 75,000 gal (283,875 l) of wastewater per day, of which it recycles and reuses 40 percent.
 
 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
A two-deck 48 in (1219 mm) diameter circular vibratory screener with recycle deck removes large solid waste particles. Water enters the top center, while screened water discharges into the 1250 gal (4731 l) storage tank before entering the wastewater treatment system. Oversize particles are ejected into the 55 gal (208 l) drum.
 
 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
Oversize particles are discharged into 55 gal (208 l) drum.
 
 
Linen Supply Company Boosts Wastewater Recycling Capacity 67% with Low Cost Screener Retrofit
 
A recycle screening deck (two screens of the same mesh operating in series), retrofitted on top of the screener, increases capacity instead of replacing with a larger diameter unit.

Related Media Coverage

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