Sludge Dewatering Screw Press | Beta Pramesti Asia

A sludge dewatering screw press separates water from conditioned sludge by moving floc through filtration and compression zones. Select the unit from feed rate, solids percentage, sludge type, polymer-test results, cake and filtrate targets, operating hours, and the disposal route—not screw diameter or total wastewater flow alone.

PT Beta Pramesti Asia, through beta.co.id, supplies Betaqua screw presses and dewatering-integration support for industrial wastewater plants in Indonesia. Evaluation covers the feed tank, polymer preparation, pumps, mixer, press, wash water, filtrate, cake handling, instrumentation, and operator safety.

Technically reviewed: 4 August 2026.

Which data determine the screw-press model?

Calculate dry-solids load before comparing models: sludge flow (m³/day) × feed solids (kg/m³) = kg dry solids/day. Two streams with the same volume may need different units and operating hours when concentration, thickening behaviour, or cake targets differ.

Selection data	Why it matters	Decision supported
Normal/peak flow and operating hours	Defines the hourly load and buffer requirement	Model, train count, and feed-tank capacity
Solids percentage and sludge type	Separates biological, chemical, mineral, and oily sludges	Screw-press suitability and conditioning need
Polymer test	Assesses floc formation, filtrate, and cake	Flocculant, starting dose, and make-down system
Cake and filtrate targets	Defines dewatering and the return load to the WWTP	Unit settings, recycle route, and disposal cost
Abrasion, oil, fibres, and pH	Affects the screen, materials, cleaning, and wear	Materials, pretreatment, and inspection schedule
Wash water, power, space, and access	Determines whether the package can be run and maintained	Layout, utilities, platforms, and cake handling

Before purchase, run a bench or pilot test on the actual sludge where practical. Record polymer-dose basis, feed rate, feed solids, cake solids, filtrate quality, wash-water use, torque stability, and screen condition. One sample is insufficient where the process load changes by shift or season.

How do polymer preparation and operation affect dewatering?

Polymer should form floc strong enough to pass through pumps and mixing without blinding the screen. Overdosing can increase cost, make filtrate slippery or cloudy, and leave residual polymer; underdosing can produce fine floc, solids carryover, and an unstable cake.

1. Verify stock concentration, make-down water, addition sequence, and hydration time.
2. Calibrate polymer and sludge-feed pumps under actual conditions.
3. Start from the test result and change one primary variable at a time.
4. Record feed rate, torque, filtrate, cake, wash water, and polymer consumption.
5. Return filtrate to a WWTP point that can accept its hydraulic and solids load.

For a complete programme, align the press with industrial sludge treatment, coagulation, and the sludge generated by DAF. Feed equipment can be reviewed through Watermart dosing pumps for water treatment.

Betaqua screw-press model specifications

Model	Discharge Height (mm)	Total Dimension (mm)			N.W (Kg)	Operating Weight (Kg)	Power (Kw)	Water Consumption (L/H)
L	W	H
Betaqua-131	250	1860	750	1080	2805	300	0.2	24
Betaqua-132	250	1960	870	1080	275	425	0.3	48
Betaqua-201	350	2440	860	1380	320	470	0.74	32
Betaqua-202	495	2650	960	1380	470	730	1.11	64
Betaqua-301	495	3370	940	1670	910	1320	1.5	40
Betaqua-302	585	3570	1260	1670	1350	2130	2.25	80
Betaqua-303	585	3830	1620	1670	1820	2880	3	120
Betaqua-351	585	3900	1160	2190	1610	2210	1.1	72
Betaqua-352	585	4240	1550	2190	2300	3400	2.75	144
Betaqua-353	585	4460	2100	2190	3350	4850	3.85	216
Betaqua-354	585	4660	2650	2190	4500	6100	4.95	288
Betaqua-401	759	4356	1170	2400	2500	3400	1.85	80
Betaqua-402	759	4900	1640	2400	3480	5200	2.95	160
Betaqua-403	759	5030	2240	2400	4550	7050	4.05	240
Betaqua-404	759	5350	3240	2400	6550	9660	5.15	320

The table is the product data currently published on this page, not a guaranteed process capacity. Request the latest model sheet and confirm every dimension, weight, power value, water requirement, solids capacity, and material before foundation design or purchase.

Capacity and operating-hours worksheet

Screw-press capacity should be fixed on kg of dry solids per hour and the operating hours available. This calculation prevents undersizing when a unit is selected only from daily sludge volume.

Step	Formula or evidence	Example decision
Daily solids load	Sludge flow × solids percent × 1,000 kg/m³	20 m³/day × 2% = 400 kg DS/day
Hourly load	kg DS/day ÷ effective operating hours	400 ÷ 8 hours = 50 kg DS/hour
Operating margin	Peak load, wash downtime, sludge variation, and standby	Select a model/train that still handles the peak case
Utilities	Wash water, power, instrument air where used, drain, and cake-handling space	Confirm utilities before the PO is issued
Trial acceptance	Cake solids, filtrate TSS, capture rate, polymer use, torque, and wash water	Accept the model only when all targets are met together, not from one number

Document the acceptance run under the same operating-hours basis planned for production. If the test is short, separate start-up results from stable results so capacity is not read too optimistically.

Operating-trial record	Minimum data	Acceptance or rejection reason
Inlet load	m³/h, solids percent, kg DS/h, and sample variation	Shows the model was tested at design load, not only at low flow
Cake output	solids percent, ton/day, discharge behaviour, and handling route	Confirms the disposal or haulage target can be met
Filtrate and recycle	filtrate TSS, return flow, and WWTP return point	Prevents return load from upsetting the biological or upstream DAF process
Supporting consumption	kg polymer/ton DS, L wash water/h, kWh, and wash hours	Calculates operating cost on the same basis as the offer
Mechanical stability	torque, alarms, screen condition, noise/vibration, and discharge inspection	Rejects settings that work briefly but are unstable for routine operation

If operating hours are reduced, hourly capacity must rise even when daily solids load is unchanged. For projects with unstable sludge production, plan feed buffering and the filtrate recycle route so the biological wastewater programme does not receive a sudden return load.

What should be checked when screw-press performance is unstable?

Symptom	First checks	Evaluation response
Cloudy filtrate	Floc, polymer dose, shear, screen condition, and feed rate	Restore conditioning and screen cleanliness before raising dose
Cake is too wet	Feed solids, compression setting, polymer, and operating hours	Compare performance with the test and mechanical limits
High torque	Flow, solids, foreign material, screen, and discharge route	Reduce load safely, then inspect for obstruction or wear
Polymer use increases	Make-down, calibration, sludge change, and injection point	Verify delivery and obtain a new sample before changing grade
Excessive wash water	Nozzles, pressure, wash schedule, and screen condition	Adjust cleaning from inspection and filtrate evidence

Frequently asked questions about sludge screw presses

Can the model be selected from daily wastewater flow?

No. A screw press receives sludge, so selection requires sludge flow, solids concentration, dry-solids load, operating hours, conditioning results, and cake or filtrate targets.

Does a screw press always require polymer?

Need depends on sludge type and test results. Many sludges require conditioning so floc is retained, but product and dose should not be assumed without testing.

Which data are needed for an evaluation?

Send the sludge source, normal or peak flow, solids percentage, polymer-test results, cake and filtrate targets, operating hours, utilities, space, cake-handling method, and upset history through the Beta contact page.