Lowering Groundwater via Filter Wells
In brown coal strip mining, a continuous lowering of the groundwater level is necessary in order to protect the mining area from flooding and the pit walls from water pressure. A large number of filter wells with underwater motor pumps are kept in operation for this purpose. The high-performance pumps are controlled by frequency converters and operate non-stop. This prevents the pump shaft from blocking due to the effects of iron and manganese oxide deposits. To effectively lower the water level, several hundred million cubic meters have to be pumped out each year. Precise level measurement is required in each of the up to 2460 ft (750 m) deep wells to regulate pump output.
Level Measurement in Filter Wells with the VEGAWELL 72
Lowering the pump and pressure pipe is very difficult and expensive. For this reason, extremely high reliability is required of all components. VEGAWELL 72 fulfills this need. The ceramic measuring cell is so robust that it is mounted front flush without additional protection. The water flowing around it gives rise to a “self-cleaning” effect that prevents premature mineral deposits and thus incorrect measurements.
