Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Page 1 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
Pagina 2 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Because suction dredgers are often demountable they can also be used in excavation pits
which are not on navigable waterways. In general, suction dredgers are relatively light
vessels and, although anchored on wires, are usually unsuitable for dredging in open waters
(unless specially adapted).
18 28 26
13
25 19
24
16 10
11
22
17 23 21 20 14
27 15
31
Page 3 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
6
22
23 5 6 28
24 19/20 27
16 7 30
29
1 11 10 9 34
11
31
12 14
12
17/18 35
35 33
33
13/15
32
32
2
2
8 8
Pagina 4 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
4.4 History
In 1851, more than a century after their invention, the first centrifugal pumps were used to
excavate sand with hopper dredgers. A few years later (1856) the first attempts were already
being made to transport the material onshore via pipelines. Ten years later this idea was
demonstrated in the Netherlands during the excavation of the North Sea Canal. (Figure 4.7)
Figure 4. 7 The wooden Hutton Dredger dredging the North Sea Canal
Page 5 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
From this history it appears clear that the development of the suction dredger was closely
linked with the development of the dredge pump. Because at that time little power was
available to drive the dredge pump, the reclamation dredger was only used when the
distances to the disposal site were short. In the other cases barges were used or the dredger
was modified. As the sand pumps became able to withstand higher pressures, the transport
distances and pump capacities were increased.
This process is essential for the production of a suction dredger and is entirely determined by
the soil mechanical properties of the slope, the most important factors being its permeability
to water and relative density.
When a suction dredger starts on a new work there is no dredge pit, slope or breach and the
angle between the suction pipe and the horizontal is usually very small. The sand that is
carried towards the suction pipe lies entirely within the area influenced by the water flowing
to the suction mouth. This process causes a small pit to develop in the soil.
The dredger is now drawn forwards a little
by means of the bow winch and the suction
pipe is set deeper, after which the process is
repeated. As the small pit becomes deeper
and the angle of the suction tube becomes
steeper (more effective for the swirling up
and transporting of the sand) the production
increases. (Figure 4. 9) This process is
continued until the suction mouth is deep
enough or until the production is so high
that the pump can no longer cope with a
further increase. This slow forward
movement with the dredger, with
simultaneous lowering of the suction pipe is
termed ‘breaking in’ or ’commencing’.
Pagina 6 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
The time that is needed to reach a state of equilibrium thus depends on the previously
mentioned soil mechanical properties, the height of the slope and the pump capacity of the
dredger.
When a state of equilibrium has been reached it is the task of the dredge master to maintain
this situation by letting the dredger follow the breach/bank, by regularly hauling the dredger
forwards and by continuing to lower the suction pipe for as long as this remains possible.
If the movement of the dredger is too slow, a less steep slope forms and the production is
reduced.
If, on the other hand, the forward movement is faster than the transport of the sand, the angle
of slope will increase and there is an increasing chance that large scale shearing will occur.
The sand concentration may then become so high that the pump cannot cope with it and the
mixture ceases to flow. The shearing can be so great that even the suction pipe becomes
fast/firmly embedded and, if it cannot be pulled free, another dredger must be used to free it
by using suction or must cut it free.
The dredging pattern that is made with a suction dredger generally appears like that shown in
Figure 4. 10. As long as it lies within the dredging area, the length of the cut is determined
by the positions of the anchors. The anchors are usually placed in such a way that more cuts
can be made beside each other from the same position. In addition to the length of the anchor
wires, this possibility also depends on the width over which the sand is being excavated.
This, in turn, depends on the shear characteristics of the sand layers.
For suction dredgers equipped with an underwater pump the excavation depth no longer
determines the production. This also makes it possible to exploit the dredging area in the
vertical sense. In other words, production can be maintained by continuing to lower the
suction pipe until the maximum suction depth has been reached. If the production falls below
an economic minimum, the pit is abandoned and dredging recommences ½ to ¾ pit diameter
away from it. It will be clear that this dredging method produces a pockmarked excavation
area and that considerable amount of sand that cannot be economically excavated remain
behind in the dredging area. This is a situation that the managers of the dredging sites prefer
not to see.
Page 7 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
This method of dredging does provide the possibility to obtain sand from directly beneath a
clay layer, but it must be realised that the removal of the sand will cause the clay to lose its
stability. In the most favourable case the clay will fall onto the slope in fragments that will be
taken up with the sand. If the clay falls in large pieces there is a good chance that these will
become fast and block the suction pipe, with all the disadvantages that this can bring. It is
difficult for the water needed for mixture formation to flow, especially in the beginning phase
when the clay layer has not yet been penetrated.
Water must be brought to the suction pipe via the jet pipe. For the above described
excavation method the suction pipe is made in two parts, (Figure 4.11) the lowest section
being hinged onto the upper section so that the lowest part is always first suspended almost
vertically. With such a suction pipe, moments that occur during horizontal movements can be
taken up only to a small extent.
• Production capacity
• Suction depth
• Transport distance
• Type of soil
Because suction dredgers are only suitable for the dredging of non-cohesive material, the last
parameter plays an important role only in the determination of the diameters of the suction
pipe and hydraulic pipeline and the required sand pump capacity.
Pagina 8 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
If, during a 168 hr working week, the number of effective working hours is 0.75*168=126
and during a 36 hr working week the effective hours are 0.86*36 = 30.6, the production ratio
is 126/36.6 = 4.1 instead of 168/36 = 4.7.
For the design of the dredging installation, and thus for the vessel also, the production per
hour is more important than the daily, weekly or monthly production. In many cases, in order
to prevent overloading of the drives, even shorter time intervals are considered. If the
production capacity is known, this requirement can be translated into:
Cvd
Since: Q = Qmixture ∗ (4.2)
1− n
with
Symbol describtion dimension
Q = Production [m3/s]
Qmixture = Flow rate [m3/s]
Cvd = Delivered concentration [-]
n = Porosity [-]
The anticipated average concentration depends on the behaviour of the soil in the
breach/bank (see lecture notes ‘Dredging Processes”). The maximum suction concentration is
determined on the basis of the types of soil and the insight of the designer.
The maximum average concentration that can be transported by a pipeline depends on the
ratio maximum grain diameter/pipe diameter and the length of the pipeline. In long pipelines
aggregation (increased concentration) may occur as a result of density variations during
dredging (Matousek, 1995).
As rule of thumb, a maximum average density of 1500 kg/m3 (Cvd = 30%) is often used for
sand. On the basis of this assumption the flow rate is now fixed because the production
capacity is taken as a given value.
Page 9 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
ρ w g (H − h p ) + ρ p gh p − p pomp = ρ m ghz + ρ m v 2 ç1 + ζ + λ ÷
1 æ Lö
2 è Dø
with
ρw = density water [kg/m3]
ρp = density suspended sand in the pit [kg/m3]
ρm = mixture density in the suction tube [kg/m3]
H = waterdepth [m]
hp = depth of pit [m]
hx = suction height [m]
ppump = pressure in front of the pump [N/m2]
v = mixture velocity [m/s]
ξ = entree loss factor [-]
λ = Darcy Weisbach headloss factor [-]
L = total length suction tube [m]
D = diameter suction tube [m]
ρ w g (H − h p ) + ρ p ghp − p pomp = ρ m g (H − k ) + ρ m v 2 ç1 + ζ + λ ÷
1 æ Lö
2 è Dø
This results in:
ρ w g (H − hp ) + ρ p gh p − p pomp
ρm =
1 æ Lö
g (H − k ) + v 2 ç1 + ζ + λ ÷
2 è Dø
For the boundaries given in Figure 4.13 the maximum dredgeable mixture density is
calculated for different depth of the dredge pump below thw waterlevel
Pagina 10 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
1700
1600
Mixture density [kN/m3]
1500
k=0 m
1400 k=5 m
1300 k=10 m
1200
1100
1000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Dredging depth [m]
Figure 4. 13
In order to dredge, from a depth of 30 m, a density of 1500 kg/m3 the dredge should be place
almost 8.5 m below the waterline.
A pump on the waterline can pump a density of1120 kg/m3. In the second case, if the same
Q0 ρ5 − ρ w 1500 − 1000
production is required, the flow should be: = = = 4.17 as great.
Q5 ρ 0 − ρ w 1120 − 1000
With the same pumping velocity this leads to a suction pipe of a diameter that is 2 times as
big.
For a given decisive vacuum and a maximum suction concentration it is possible to determine
whether an underwater pump is necessary and, if so, how far under water this pump must be
positioned, as a function of the required suction depth.
Rho_mixutre=1500 kg/m3
hp=0 m, Vac=75 kPa, Vz=5 m/s, rho_water=1000 km/m3, G_p=1600 km/m3, Zeta=2 , Lambda=0.02, L/(H-k)=1.5, D=0.8 m
35.00
30.00
Depht pump below water level [m]
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Dredging depth [m]
Figure 4. 14
From the above graph (Figure 4.14) it appears that to pump a mixture density of 1500 kg/m3
at a depth of 50 metres the pump must be positioned 17 metres under water.
Page 11 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
If the suction dredger is equipped with an underwater pump the chosen discharge pressure
(and thus capacity) can be such that during the loading of barges only the underwater pump is
used. The pipeline system and valves can also be designed for this. The grain size and the
distance over which the material must be transported determine the required manometric
pressure for the discharge pump(s). It is also possible to choose an underwater pump of
higher capacity than is needed to unload the barges. The surplus capacity can then be used
during discharging. The maximum discharge pressure that a dredger can supply depends on
the quality of the shaft sealing of the last pump. Often values exceeding 25 - 30 bar are not
permitted.
(
Thus: v kritiek = Fl ,h + Fl ,v ) 2 g ( S s − 1) D in which the value of Fl,h is determined by the
material to be pumped. (See lecture notes “Dredging Processes) Fl,v is the correction for
sloping transport and has a maximum value of .333
(See also the relevant Section 2.2.4.3. of Hopper dredgers).
If both the critical velocity and the average concentration have been determined, the relation
between pipeline diameters and production is:
with
Pagina 12 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
0.9
0.8
Discharge diameter [m[
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
Production [m3/s]
For discharge pumps the specific speed ns is in the interval between 0.25 and 0.50 (Figure
4.16). With the aid of this figure the type of pump and impeller can be chosen.
Page 13 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
Inboard Pumps
0.08 0.8
0.07 0.7
0.06 0.6
Specific Capacity
Specific Head
0.05 0.5
0.04 0.4
0.03 0.3
0.02 0.2
0.01 0.1
0 0
0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
Specific Speed
Figure 4. 16
For the underwater pump usually a higher specific speed is taken than for the discharge
pumps, but for the sake of standardisation the same pump is often selected. One should ask
oneself whether the position of the maximum efficiency point could still reasonably satisfy
the stipulated demands with regard to the flow. This is also valid when no underwater pump
is fitted. In such a case stipulations must be made with regard to the suction properties
(NPSH value) of the inboard pump.
Other factors also play a part in the selection of a pump and impeller:
• A three, four or five blade impeller. Depending on the required minimum passage
between the blades.
• Single or double walled pump. (considerations relating to wear.)
If long transport distances have to be covered the question arises of whether one large pump
or two smaller ones will be needed. In addition to the specific revolution speed the peripheral
velocity of the impeller also plays a part. To limit wear, the peripheral velocity of the
impeller is limited to 35 to 40 m/s. This also limits the maximum manometric pressure.
Whether or not one or more delivery pumps are needed depends on the total require delivery
pressure and delivery pump power.
4.6.6 Jetpumps
Pagina 14 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
6D
vL = v See Figure 4. 17
L 0
Here:
v L = Velocity of the jet at distance L in m/s.
D = Diameter of the jet nozzle in m.
L = Distance to the jet nozzle in m.
v 0 = Velocity of the jet at the nozzle in m/s.
Vr
r
D VL
Jet V0
Example.
If the pressure at the nozzle is 500 kPa and the jet nozzle has a diameter of 0.3 m e and a
minimum velocity in the centre of the jet **at the breach/bank of 3 m/s is needed to activate
the breach/bank, the maximum distance to the breach/bank is:
2p 2∗500
µ 0.6
v0 ρ 1
L = 6D = 6D = 6∗0.3 = 11 m
vL vL 3
æ r ö2
vr −90ç ÷
The decrease in velocity towards the edge of the jet can be calculated with: = e è Lø .
vL
Here v r = the velocity of the jet at distance r from the centre.
Page 15 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
v_r=v_L*exp(-90*(r/L)^2)
0.25
0.2
0.15
r/L
0.1
0.05
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
V_r/V_L
At a distance of 11 m and with a relation of vr = 0.4 the diameter of the jet is as shown in the
vL
r
graph below D = 2 L = 2∗01 . ∗11 = 2.2 m
L
In other words, the influence of the water jet is only very local.
πD 2 π ⋅ 0.32
The jet flow is: Q j = v0 = 18.9 = 134
. m³/s
4 4
Qj ⋅ p . ∗500
134
and the power at the water pump: Pj = = = 838 KWatt
η .8
Here:
Q j = the jet flow m³/s
Qm = the sand flow in m³/s
Cvd = the transport concentration [-]
n = the pore number [-]
Pagina 16 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
0.8
0.6 n=.35
n=.4
Cvd
0.4
n=.45
0.2 n=.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5
Qj/Qm
Figure 4. 19
Example:
Qj
If Cvd = 0.25 and n=0.5 (loose packed sand), then =.5
Qm
The area of influence by the jet is now less important, as long as the water that is added
benefits mixture formation.
The water pumps are chosen in the same way as the sand pump
Page 17 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
3,000 3000
2,500 2500
y = 0.4074x
Light weight [t]
500 500
0 0
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
Total installed power [kW] LBD [m3]
Figure 4. 20 Figure 4. 21
The lightweight of the plain suction dredgers depend on the total power installed. (Figure
4.20), while the volume of the pontoon is 2.5 times the light weight (Figure 4.21).
The main ships parameters vary widely; L/B between 3 and 8 and B/T between 7 and 3.5,
because the length is mainly determined by the factors mentioned above. (Figure 4.22)
L/B B/T
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
L/B & B/T
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Light weight [t]
Figure 4. 22
Figure 4.23 shows the dredger Seeland, with a total installed power of 3200 kW and a
maximum dredging depth of 40 m. The dredger is build under the classification of the
Germanische Lloyd GL + 100 A 4 dredger.
The length of the suction pipe often determines the length of the well. With very long suction
pipes or two-part suction pipes the catamaran principle is often used. The suction pipe is then
hinged onto the stern of the pontoon (Figure 4.2) This is certainly not essential.
Sometimes special gantries are designed to carry the long suction tube (figure 2.23).
Pagina 18 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Figure 4. 23
In deep dredgers with an articulated pipe, the lower pipe is fastened to the upper pipe by
hydraulic cylinders, in which case it is not necessary to have a long well (Figure 4.24).
Lübeck Germany
Page 19 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
Figure 4.25 shows an offshore plain suction dredgers designed for significant wave heights of
2.75 m and a total installed power of 7425 kW. The coupling with the floating pipeline is in
the middle of the port side where the movements of the pontoon are minimum when working
in waves. This is in contradiction with dredgers for inland waters. They do have the
connection on the aft of the pontoon.
Pagina 20 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Figure 4. 27
Figure 4. 28 Figure 4. 29
In many cases jet nozzle are situated around the suction mouth to activated either the
breaching process and/or the mixture forming (Figure 4.30)
When the suction mouth is fully penetrated in the sand, water jets are necessary the fulfil the
requirements for the mixture forming. In that case jets are situated around the suction mouth
(figure 4.31)
Page 21 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
Figure 4. 32
Figure 4. 33
Pagina 22 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
To ensure good control it is advisable to provide the valve with two openings, a big one for
sudden emergencies and a second smaller valve that can be used for fine control with a
continuously high vacuum.
A rubber suction hose forms the link between the suction pipe and the pipelines on board.
This rubber hose is equipped with vulcanised steel rings, which prevent it from collapsing
when under pressure occurs in it. The centreline of the suction hose is at the same height as
the hinge and often lies beneath the waterline (Figure 4.35).
Figure 4. 35
To prevent water from flowing in during pump inspections a so-called “outboard valve” must
be fitted onboard before the pump
PSD’s without a submerged pumps have to be designed in such away that the suction pipeline
is as short as possible. Where the suction pipeline comes above water, the chance of taking in
air must be reduced to the minimum. (Taking in air has the same effect as cavitation.)
Page 23 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
When suction dredgers do not have an underwater pump, efforts must be made the position of
the first pump must be as deep as possible below the water line. This means on the base of
the pontoon. As well as good discharge characteristics, the first pump must also have good
suction characteristics, thus a high decisive vacuum and/or a low NPSH value.
If the dredger is equipped with an underwater pump the layout is less critical. In that case
aspects such as accessibility for inspection and repairs play a more important role. The
onboard pump is then only required to possess discharge characteristics. For the required
specific speed for these pumps referred is to chapter 2.2.3.5 Dredge pump.
Pagina 24 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Figure 4. 38 Ths sea-going PSD AURORA with the discharge pipeline connected on starboard
4.8.2.6 Sprayers
If the dredged material has to be loaded into barges alongside because the transport distance
is too long for pipeline transport to be economic, sprayers which are connected to the
discharge pipeline are fitted on both sides of the dredger. The number of sprayers that is
fitted on each side of the dredger depends on the capacity of the dredger and the size of the
barges and varies between one and four per side.
Page 25 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
To prevent barges from being unevenly loaded, the sprayers must be positioned as closely as
possible to the centreline of the barge (Figure 4.39). Sometimes extra measures are necessary
for this. For example, when it is necessary that to satisfy the demand that free fall of the
dredged material must be prevented, the sprayers must be positioned as low as possible.
The capacity of the pump and the pipeline plan must be designed in such a way that on each
side a barge can be loaded simultaneously. The sprayers are moved by means of winches or
by a hydraulic system.
Pagina 26 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Figure 4. 41
4.8.2.14The fairlead
To sail the barge from and to the dredger fairleads are used to bring the side line wires on a
sufficient depth below the water level that the barge can sail over the wires.
Page 27 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
Fairlead
guide
Side wire
Figure 4. 42 Fairlead
Pagina 28 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
1. The behaviour of the breach/bank during dredging also termed the breach/bank
production.
2. The suction production of the dredger.
3. The discharge production of the dredger.
The last two productions will not be considered in these lecture notes. They will be treated in
a course on dredge pumps and pipeline transport because the calculations involved are
similar for all types of dredger.
Detailed information about this process can be found in the lecture note wb3413 the
“Breaching process” .
Figure 4. 44
The relation between vw and vz follows from the similarity of shape after a time ∆t.
Page 29 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
H H
vw ⋅ ∆t = and vh ⋅ ∆t =
tan α 1
−
1
tan α tan β
ì tan α ü
v h = v w í1 − ý
î tan β þ
Production per metre wide:
ì tan α ü
Qsand = vh ⋅ H = vw ⋅ H í1 − ý
î tan β þ
The cause of the steeper slope is cause by the dilantancy (an increase of porosity) due to the
shearing of the sand matrix. When the porosity increases pore water has to flow to the these
large pores. When this happens slowly a decrease in pore pressure will occur and a increase
in the effective stresses causing an more stability. When sufficient water has flowed into the
pores the under pressure and additional stability will vanish.
This spillage can be calculated with the following production balance can be set up:
(H − S) v
2
H −S 2S S
Hvh − vw =
tan α 2 tan δ tan α
h
with:
Pagina 30 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
The first term is the volume per unit of time passing through area of the plane TAR, the
second term is the production from the face BAT and BRA with ½S being the average height
retrogressive erosion or wall over the area considered and the term on right side of the
equation is the volume per unit of time passing through a plane with the final cross section.
0.5b H H H
−
tan α tan β tan β
S
O g B S A
tan δ
0.5b
S d
Figure 4. 46
Page 31 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
H 2 − HS S 2 vw H 2 − 2 HS + S 2
− =
tan α tan δ vh tan α
tan α vw
H 2 − HS − S 2 = H 2 − 2 HS + S 2
tan δ vh
H
S = 0 and S =
tan α vw
1+
tan δ vh
H2
The theoretical production without spillage, according equation Q = vh ,
tan α
2
é ù
v H ê2
v ú
the real production Q = h ê tan δ
w
ú , and
tan α ê vh + vw ú
ë tan α û
é tan δ
2
ù
v
the spillage production Q vh H 2 ê tan α h ú
= ê ú
tan α ê tan δ v + v ú
spillage
ë tan α û
h w
More sand flows to the suction mouth than the pumps can handle. The pump is the limiting
factor and this criterion can be subdivided as follows:
• The under-pressure/vacuum in front of the pump is the limiting factor. The under
pressure in front of the pump is so high that cavitation occurs, resulting in the loss of the
discharge pressure. The pump then cuts out. The only good remedy is to position the
underwater pump deeper.
• The discharge pressure is the limiting factor. The discharge distance is so long that the
pressure required for the critical velocity of the mixture is higher than the pump can
deliver. A stationary deposit will be formed in the pipeline, with the chance of a totally
blocked pipeline. Depending on the loading on the engine, consideration can be given to
the installation of a pump with a larger impeller or to changing the transmission ratio in
the gearbox. If the loading of the engine is already maximal the maximum concentration
has been reached.
• The pump torque is the limiting factor. This is the contrary situation to the above
mentioned limiting pressure situation. The remedy is to use a smaller impeller.
Pagina 32 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
P( 1 − ov ) β P( 1 − ov ) β P( 1 − ov ) β
n= = = t cyclus (4.24)
Pbak Lbak Lbak
t cyclus
Here:
As a rule of thumb the percentage smaller than 100 µm can be taken as overflow losses.
The bulking is determined by the difference volume weight in situ and in the barge. With
strongly graded material the volume weight in the barge is ± 19 kN/m³ and with uniform
material this can decrease to ± 18 kN/m³. For the calculation of the bulking reference should
be made to Section 2.6.3.1.
In addition to the fact that the pit or the pump can be *maatgevend, with a barge-loading
dredger, a situation may occur in which the barges are *maatgevend. In other words there are
not enough barges. A situation that may have a variety of causes such as:
• weather and wave conditions
• shipping
• Bridges and lock
• Unequal speeds of the barges
• Loss of time by the barge
• Delays on the dredger
• Loss of time at the discharge site
It will be clear that when using a barge-loading dredger there is always a chance of delays
due to the absence of a barge.
Page 33 van 35
Wb w3408b Designing Dredging Equipment
Because the above mentioned delays can be reasonably well estimated with regard to their
average values and standard deviations, the Monte Carlo Simulation can provide insight into
the probability of delay resulting from the absence of barges.
Dustpan dredgers are now only used for small projects or on special dredgers such as the
“Cardium.” The “Cardium” is equipped with 6 suction pipes and suction pumps, each with
two suction mouths, in order to ensure that the bottom is at the correct depth (the foremost
suction mouth is in dustpan mode) and is flat and clean immediately before a block mattress
is laid down (clean up model).
Pagina 34 van 35
prof. W.J.Vlasblom April 2003
Chapter 4 Plain Suction Dredgers
Figure 4. 48 Dustpan haed with pump and pipel ine sceme of the matress laying vessel “CARDIUM”
4.11 References
1. Offshore soil mechanics, Verruit, 1992
2. Investigations to the spillage of the horizontal suction process, W.J. Vlasblom, to be
published in May 2003.
3. Hydraulic excavation of sand, H.N.C. Breusers, Proceedings International course Modern
Dredging, June 1977, The Hague
4. Neue Erkentnisse beim Gewinne und Transport von Sand im Spülproject Venserpolder,
J. de Koning
5. Coastal & Ocean Dredging, J.B. Herbich, Gulf Publishing Company, Texas
6. Lecture notes wb 3413 “The Breaching Process”
7. Lecture notes additional to wb 3414 “ Dredge pumps”
Page 35 van 35