Influence of Mud Delivery Distance on Designing Cutter Suction Dredgers

The mud delivery distance is related to the power of the mud pump and whether a barge is needed to transport the mud. When the mud transportation distance is too large and it is uneconomical to use hydraulic mud transportation pipes, barges are required. It is also possible that the use of the mud line may not be necessary due to the obstruction of navigation. Cutter suction dredgers are rarely equipped with barges for transporting mud. If the cutter suction dredger is equipped with a submerged pump, the factor to be considered when selecting the power of the submerged pump is that only the dredge pump is working when the barge is loaded. Piping systems and valve designs also need to take this factor into account. Soil particle size and pipe length determine the mud pump's power. It is also possible to choose a submerged pump with higher power than a barge for mud delivery. The excess power of the mud pump can be used when unloading and conveying mud. The maximum pressure that a Cutter suction dredger can provide is determined by the shaft seal of the submerged pump. Usually the maximum allowable value is 25-30 bar.