McLanahan Corporation’s Sand Manager® Classifying Tank Troubleshooting Guide offers solutions to help maximize the production of your machine by offering corrective actions for situations such as the tank is not operating, the individual valve stations are not operating, excessive blowing from a valve and more.
Sand Classifying Tank Maintenance
How often should I check the fluid level in the hydraulic power unit?
Daily. Maintain the fluid level by filling the reservoir until fluid is visible in the fill-strainer assembly. Refer to the Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual for further guidance.
How do I gauge wear and avoid issues during operating periods?
Check that all parts in the Sand Tank are in good condition. This includes all valve components and torque motor assembly parts.
How do I replace the downpipes or elbows?
Replace downpipes and elbows that show excessive wear by:
- Turn off the Sand Classifying Tank control panel.
- Remove the hose clamps and the Zip-Strip® that holds the downpipe to the valve seat and remove the downpipe assembly.
- If the elbow needs to be replaced, remove the hose clamp and Zip-Strip® and remove the elbow.
- If elbow needs to be re-installed, apply a small amount of grease into the groove inside the elbow and install the elbow.
- Fasten the elbow to the downpipe by sliding the Zip-Strip® retaining spline into the mating channel. When the Zip-Strip® is fully inserted, several inches will remain exposed. Do not force the Zip-Strip® any farther.
- Verify that both O-rings are properly seated in the valve seat and install a small amount of grease to the O-rings.
- Apply a small amount of grease to end of downpipe assembly and into the groove at the top of the down-pipe. Carefully insert the downpipe into the valve seat being sure not to damage the O-rings inside the valve seat.
- Align downpipe assembly in the flume and insert the Zip-Strip® retaining spline.
- Install the hose clamps onto the valve seat, one above the Zip-Strip® retaining spline and one below it.
Operational Best Practices
What is the best way to retain fines?
For the best classification and fines retention, ensure that all the weirs are level.
How do I know if I am achieving good classification?
In addition to periodically sampling product piles of classified and dewatered sand, take a sample and make a gradation analysis of material discharging from stations 1 and 2. If the sand discharging has 10% or more passing 300 micron, or 50 mesh, this is not good classification.
How can I ensure a smooth startup the next operating day?
When shutting down the Sand tank, continue running it with the normal water volume for 20-30 minutes so that the sand entering the unit settles and discharges and so that downstream dewatering equipment can purge itself as best as possible from the equipment.
Recommended Spare Parts
In the event of a breakdown or to perform any repairs that must be made as result of regularly scheduled maintenance checks, we recommend that you keep certain Sand Classifying Tank spare parts at your facility/on site.
Part Name | Quantity |
| Elbow | 3 |
| Retaining Spline | 6 |
| Valve | 3 |
| Valve Seat | 3 |
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