IMS Introduces GeoPool Technology

IMS Dredge has announced the acquisition of a patent pending state-of-the-art dewatering technology that is inexpensive, reusable, scalable, and does not require polymers – the GeoPool.

The technology was invented by an IMS Versi-Dredge customer and then successfully trialed in the United States and Europe.

IMS recently sold several GeoPools to a customer in the United States.

Dewatering is a key obstacle facing dredge contractors around the globe.

The IMS GeoPool is an innovative dewatering solution that is inexpensive, reusable, scalable, and easy to set up. The system is comprised of a series of 10 ft. (3m) wide x 6 ft. (1.8m) tall dismountable hot dip galvanized steel frames.

The frames are linked together to form a circular pool-like structure that is lined with IMS’s unique GeoFabric. It is not the same material as geotextile tube fabric.

A hydraulic dredge pumps the slurry directly into the GeoPool. The water from the slurry permeates through the filter fabric, and the solids are retained in the pool.

Once a pool is full it is ready for dry down which takes anywhere from 3-4 days depending on material. Some ultra fine clays may take longer and might need a polymer to improve effluent clarity. Once the pool is dry the patent pending GeoPool Collapsible Cleanout Gates are dropped, and tracked earth movers can enter the pool and remove the dry and stackable solids.

During dry down the dredge discharge is diverted to a second pool to allow for continuous operation.

In addition to the standard dewatering through the filter fabric, the patent pending GeoPool Dump Doors allow for rapid bulk dewatering of clear surface water speeding up the entire process. The GeoPool’s affordability makes rapid dewatering technology available to contractors and government entities both small and large.

IMS GeoPools are reusable so they are a less expensive proposition than geotextile tubes for medium to large projects and for contractors that use geotextile tubes for many of their projects. In addition to this feature, the GeoPool’s can handle a much larger volume of material than geotextile tubes.

It would take 10-40 geotextile tubes to equal the dewatering capacity of one GeoPool. Furthermore, 10 large non-reusable geotextile tubes cost approximately the same as a small GeoPool configuration.

Proven Performance

GeoPools have been used on several projects in the United States and also on a polluted river in Europe.

“We purchased an IMS dredge and started to dredge Kocaeli Bay and Istanbul Golden Horn. Because of geographic settlement of both cities we had to use a mechanical dewatering system and bought one from a US supplier, but the effluent discharge was still very dirty. The particle sizes were very fine, and the mechanical dewatering system could not separate these ultra fine particles. We then used an IMS GeoPool and the effluent came out clear. The system was very successful, much less expensive and the maintenance costs are a fraction of the mechanical system. The IMS GeoPool works very well,” said Mehmet Sen, CEO of Esman Cega.

Dewatering bentonite clay was one of the first projects completed with a GeoPool in the United States.

The material was very fine, but the GeoPool was able to produce an effluent discharge of approximately 200ppm total suspended solids without a drop of polymer. Results were verified at Astro-Chem Lab Inc.

“I have been in the industry for 15 years and developing a dewatering technology that is accessible to the entire market and not just to a select few has always been a priority. It is rewarding to see that day is finally here,” concluded Ryan Horton, IMS Vice President.