New! TumbleOx™ TBBR Pilot Testing Available

Building on the success of the TumbleOx Tumbling Bed BioReactor (TBBR) new product rollout in summer 2020, Parkson now offers a piloting program for the technology. The pilot unit provides potential customers the ability to “test drive” the product and monitor performance on their specific waste stream. It additionally provides a benefit to both Parkson and our customers by eliminating the risk of misapplying or improperly sizing a full-scale system. This is particularly true with industrial wastes which tend to have widely varying characteristics.

The TumbleOx process utilizes attached growth on media that is stored within FRP drums. The drums are approximately 50% submerged in wastewater and rotate at speeds ranging from 1-4 RPM. The media carries wastewater in and out of submergence as the drum rotates, which raises the dissolved oxygen level. This allows oxidation of BOD and ammonia without the use of blowers.

The pilot unit consists of three (3) 5’ diameter drums mounted in a steel tank and is transported on a gooseneck trailer, which it remains on throughout the testing period. A self-priming influent pump, flow meter, immersion heater (optional), and piping/hose assemblies are provided as part of the pilot package.

The TumbleOx pilot unit was completed in March 2021 and was first used by an egg producing/processing facility in Michigan for five months. The facility’s testing objective was to evaluate BOD and ammonia removal as part of a pretreatment step to reduce surcharges paid to the local POTW. The pilot was able to achieve a BOD removal rate of 5 lbs. BOD per 1,000 ft2 of media - typical for an MBBR process, but not quite what the customer needed to get the payback they were looking for.

In September, the pilot unit was relocated to State Center, IA, for testing to determine ammonia removal efficiency in lagoon effluent during cold weather months. Piloting is expected to last over the winter and conclude in Spring 2022. During that time, the test will provide valuable data to be utilized for process design and sizing of full-scale systems in the market. Data will also be used to gain approval from state regulatory agencies for use of the technology in their states. Additional information will be forthcoming as we continue to receive test results.

We encourage our representatives to utilize the pilot as a method to promote the technology. With a limited TumbleOx installation base, the pilot allows the customer to see a full-scale three (3) drum package unit in operation.

Primary markets for the TumbleOx TBBR process include:

• Post-lagoon ammonia polishing
• Small industrial pre-treatment or secondary treatment applications
• Small municipal applications such as camps, parks, rest stops, resorts, and small villages
• Projects where customers need BOD and ammonia removal without upgrading to an activated sludge process

Please reach out to your Regional Sales Manager with any potential customers who are interested in piloting or visiting the pilot unit that is currently running in Iowa. Rental rates for the unit will be determined on a project-by-project basis.