WILDEN AODD Pump for Wastewater & Sludge – Clog-Free Solids Handling

WILDEN air-operated diaphragm pumps are a practical choice for wastewater and sludge. They self-prime, can run dry when a sump empties and have no close-fitting rotating parts for solids to jam.

Solids: know the limit

Solids pass through the ball check valves, so the size limit depends on the pump. Wilden lists 0.13 inch (3.3 mm) for the 1 inch P2 and up to 0.25 inch (6.4 mm) for the larger bolted models it publishes figures for. Rags, long fibers and large lumps need screening before the pump.

Typical sizes for sludge and effluent

• 1-1/2 inch P4 or XPS4: 76 to 82 gpm (288 to 310 L/min) in aluminum
• 2 inch P8 or XPS8: 165 to 190 gpm (625 to 719 L/min)
• 3 inch T15 or XPS1520: 232 to 271 gpm (878 to 1026 L/min)
• 4 inch XPS20 in cast iron: 277 gpm (1049 L/min)

Materials

Cast iron and aluminum suit most municipal and general effluent. Stainless steel or plastic is better where the water is corrosive. Santoprene, Buna-N and polyurethane are common diaphragm choices for dirty water and sludge.

Dry suction lift for these models ranges from 13.5 ft (4.1 m) on the XPS20 to about 23 ft (7 m) on the larger Pro-Flo SHIFT pumps, according to Wilden. Deeper sumps need a different setup, so tell us the depth when you ask.