Versatility of Vacuum Bag Dewatering (pat pend) of Dredged
Organic Silt
Roger G. Miller, P.E., President Miller Engineers & Scientists
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA Geotube Gravity Dewatering Organic Silt
after three months in Geotube
Moisture Content = *120% Liquid Limit = *140% Plasticity Index =
*80% Percent Sand and Gravel = *35% Su/Pp ~ *Dry Wt Basis Vacuum
Bag Prototype Test (2008)
Clear Water Discharge Vacuum Bag System Mechanical Filter Plate
Presses, LFR 2009 Sediment Cake after Dewatering Drainage Layer
Thickness vs. Time
Organic Silt Layer Thickness Feet (m) Time To Consolidate (Days) 1
(0.3) 2 2 (0.6) 10 3 (0.9) 23 4 (1.2) 41 Time for dewatering is
proportional to the square of the height of the material.
Temperature vs. Time Material Temperature Degrees F 34 50 59 68 77
86 95 104 113 (Degrees C) (5) (10) (15) (20) (25) (30) (35) (40)
(45) Time Adjustment Factor 1.52 1.31 1.14 1.00 0.89 0.80 0.72 0.65
0.60 Increasing material temperature shortens consolidation time by
lowering the viscosity of the pore water. Vacuum Bag Consolidation
of Geotubes Vacuum Bag Dewatering in Barge Vacuum Bag Dewatering of
Sedimentation Basin Reef Building or Deep Water Disposal Sediment
Vacuum Bag Dewatering in the Lab Contact Information: Roger G.
Miller, PE, President Miller Engineers & Scientists 5308 South
12th Street Sheboygan, WI Phone (800) US Patent 7,454,847 B1 issued
and general concept patent pending.
