Device for the installation of vacuum consolidation dewatering horizontal drains for dewatering sludge ponds

Abstract

A device for installing horizontal drains in a coal combustion residual or other sludge pond consists of a trenching device that extends downwardly to the depth of required installation of the drains and an attachment through which the drains are fed during installation. The trenching device and attachment are mounted onto a carrier for floatation of the required equipment on the surface of a water-filled sludge pond. The carrier can be winched, hauled or driven across the surface of the sludge. A hydraulic system may be used to raise and lower the trenching device and attachment. The trenching device may be equipped with a chain driven blade mechanism or dredging device for the purpose of cutting a trench into the pond sludge, and a vibratory trenching device may be used to effectively liquefy the material to make the trenching device easier to pull or tow through the sludge in the pond.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for installing a drain into a sludge pond, comprising:
 cutting a trench in a sludge pond at a single depth with a trenching device attached to a amphibious carrier;   passing a drain into the trench through a downtube coupled with the trenching device; and   transporting the amphibious carrier across the sludge pond.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including removing water from the sludge pond through the drain with a vacuum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including removing water from the sludge pond through the drain with a water pump. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including multiple downtubes for simultaneous installation of co-planar drains at multiple depths. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including transporting the carrier across the sludge pond with a winch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including cutting a trench in the sludge pond with a chain driven blade attached to the trenching device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including liquefying sludge in the sludge pond with a vibrator attached to the trenching device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including transporting the carrier across dry sections of sludge with tracks attached to the carrier. 
     
     
         9 . A device, comprising:
 a trenching device that cuts a trench in a sludge pond extending downwardly from a carrier to a single depth;   a downtube through which drain may be passed into the trench coupled with the trenching device; and   a amphibious carrier for transporting the trenching device across the sludge pond.   
     
     
         10 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , further including vacuum attached to the drain to remove water from the sludge pond. 
     
     
         11 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , further including a water pump attached to the drain to remove water from the sludge pond. 
     
     
         12 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , further including multiple downtubes for simultaneous installation of co-planar drains at multiple depths. 
     
     
         13 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , wherein the winch is attached to a motorized vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , wherein the trenching device is equipped with a chain driven blade to assist in cutting a trench in the sludge pond. 
     
     
         15 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , wherein the trenching device is equipped with a vibrator to liquefy sludge in the sludge pond as the trenching device cuts the trench in the sludge pond. 
     
     
         16 . The trenching device of  claim 9 , wherein the carrier is equipped with tracks to aid in moving the carrier across dry sections of sludge.