A sludge collector arrangement has a settling tank having side walls sloping downwardly and inwardly towards the base of the tank to from a V-base. A sludge collection unit located in the bottom of the tank has one funnel part facing in one direction and another funnel part facing in the other direction so that when the unit is driven backwards and forwards in the V-base, sludge is driven into one or other of the funnel parts. The funnel parts communicate with a central chamber and a port in a wall of the chamber allows sludge to be drawn by a suction pump from the chamber for subsequent disposal.

A sludge collector arrangement has a settling tank having side walls sloping downwardly and inwardly towards the base of the tank to from a V-base. A sludge collection unit located in the bottom of the tank has one funnel part facing in one direction and another funnel part facing in the other direction so that when the unit is driven backwards and forwards in the V-base, sludge is driven into one or other of the funnel parts. The funnel parts communicate with a central chamber and a port in a wall of the chamber allows sludge to be drawn by a suction pump from the chamber for subsequent disposal.

A sludge collector arrangement has a settling tank having side walls sloping downwardly and inwardly towards the base of the tank to from a V-base. A sludge collection unit located in the bottom of the tank has one funnel part facing in one direction and another funnel part facing in the other direction so that when the unit is driven backwards and forwards in the V-base, sludge is driven into one or other of the funnel parts. The funnel parts communicate with a central chamber and a port in a wall of the chamber allows sludge to be drawn by a suction pump from the chamber for subsequent disposal.

A fluid-forwarding sludge-discharge device for a settlement basin, the device including: a pressurized water spraying unit of which one end is disposed adjacent to the floor of the settlement basin; a sludge suction cover which is disposed on an upper part of the floor such that the lower part thereof covers the upper part of the sludge-receiving unit in a state having an open box shape and collection guide plates which are provided joined to the floor of the settlement basin and guide the sludge being moved by means of the pressurized water spraying unit such that the sludge flows towards the sludge inflow recess.

A fluid-forwarding sludge-discharge device for a settlement basin, the device including: a pressurized water spraying unit of which one end is disposed adjacent to the floor of the settlement basin; a sludge suction cover which is disposed on an upper part of the floor such that the lower part thereof covers the upper part of the sludge-receiving unit in a state having an open box shape and collection guide plates which are provided joined to the floor of the settlement basin and guide the sludge being moved by means of the pressurized water spraying unit such that the sludge flows towards the sludge inflow recess.

A system for sludge removal in a circular settling tank having a side wall (106) comprises a rotatable drive ring (130) adapted to be interconnected to a scraper arm provided with scraper blades, wherein the drive ring having a plurality of engagement surfaces (134) A traction assembly (140) is fixedly attached to the side wall and comprises a drive wheel (142). By providing a drive wheel with a plurality of engagement rolls (148) adapted to engage the engagement surfaces of the drive ring during rotation of the drive wheel, the drive ring can be rotated essentially without exerting any radial forces on the drive ring.

A system for sludge removal in a circular settling tank having a side wall (106) comprises a rotatable drive ring (130) adapted to be interconnected to a scraper arm provided with scraper blades, wherein the drive ring having a plurality of engagement surfaces (134) A traction assembly (140) is fixedly attached to the side wall and comprises a drive wheel (142). By providing a drive wheel with a plurality of engagement rolls (148) adapted to engage the engagement surfaces of the drive ring during rotation of the drive wheel, the drive ring can be rotated essentially without exerting any radial forces on the drive ring.

A non-metallic conveyor chain having improved durability as a conveyor chain for a sludge collector, the conveyor chain including a plurality of unit chains and chain pins with which the unit chains are linked to each other, wherein each of the unit chains is provided at one side thereof with a barrel and at the other side thereof with a yoke. The barrel of the unit chain is formed on an outer surface thereof with a chain pocket having a groove structure, and the yoke of the unit chain is formed on an inner surface thereof with a chain boss protruding so as to correspond to the chain pocket of the unit chain to which the chain boss is to be linked.

A sonicator assembly, including: a microplate defining a plurality of wells; a manifold for containing a transducer fluid that is thermally coupled to the plurality of wells of the microplate; an ultrasonic generator operable for applying an ultrasonic excitation to the wells of the microplate; one or more of a heating module thermally coupled to and operable for selectively heating the transducer fluid and a cooling module thermally coupled to and operable for selectively cooling the transducer fluid; and a controller operable for controlling operation of the ultrasonic generator and the one or more of the heating module and the cooling module. The controller is further operable for monitoring a temperature and a pressure within the manifold. A temperature of the plurality of wells is controllable over a temperature range from 4 C. to 95 C. Optionally, the plurality of wells include a plurality of heat-resistant round-bottom hydrophilic wells.