Development of Chemical Precipitation Purchased Equipment 

Costs:

Clarifiers

Purchased Equipment Costs are the sum of the following cost elements:

(1) Pump Costs

(2) Tank Costs

(3) Chemical Feed System Costs

(4) Mixer Costs

(5) Clarifier Costs

(6) Filter Press Costs

(7) Sand Filter Costs

Each cost component includes the cost of freight and associated ancillary equipment such as piping, valves, and 

controllers.

This telephone contact report supports EPA’s development of cost element (5) by documenting EPA's 

communication with a vendor regarding purchase costs for solids contact clarifiers used in the Steam Electric 

cost model.
Project No.: 0172.08.029.044 DISTRIBUTION

Page _1_ of __1_

Project Name: Steam/Cost/Compliance Modeling

TELEPHONE CALL RECORD

 Outgoing Call

Date: 04/12/2011 Time: 12:00 pm EST

Company Name: Siemens

 

Contact Name: Thomas Dumbaugh

Phone No.:(515)-268-8549

Email address: thomas.dumbaugh@siemens.com

Name: Kavya Kasturi ERG

GENERAL SUBJECT: Vendor cost request for Solids contact clarifiers for a chemical precipitation wastewater treatment system.

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND ACTION TAKEN

On April 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm I contacted Mr. Thomas Dumbaugh. I explained to Mr. Dumbaugh that we are 

working on conceptual level costing of a chemical precipitation wastewater treatment system to treat FGD (flue 

gas desulfurization) wastewater from steam electric power plants, and as a part of this project we are trying to 

collect cost information on different components or units of a chemical precipitation system.

I told Mr. Dumbaugh that we would like to obtain purchase costs (including ancillary equipment), power 

requirements and any available marketing material or brochures for solids contact clarifiers for flow rates 

ranging from 7 gpm to 700 gpm. I explained to Mr. Dumbaugh the general set up of the chemical precipitation 

system as well as the characteristics of the FGD wastewater. I specifically stated that the chlorides levels could 

range from 2,000 ppm to 40,000 ppm.

Mr. Dumbaugh indicated that the smallest size solids contact clarifier would accommodate a flow rate of 100 

gpm. For flow rates under 100 gpm, Mr. Dumbaugh suggested using plastic tanks with a mixer.

Mr. Dumbaugh provided costs for a range of flow rates. He indicated the costs included all internal equipment 

but did not include the cost of the basin. He said a concrete basin is typically used. The costs also do not include 

installation, which is typically two to three times the purchase cost. Also, Mr. Dumbaugh stated that the costs 

are for all steel equipment, which would accommodate our lower chlorides level of 2,000 ppm but would not be 

appropriate for higher chlorides levels. Mr. Dumbaugh indicated he would provide a multiplier that could be 

applied to the costs to account for using a material appropriate for the chlorides range we expect.

The costs for the clarifiers are provided below:

Flow (gpm) Diameter (ft) Cost ($)

100 12 $118,000 

140 14 $122,000 

250 18 $130,000 

350 22 $150,000 

470 26 $162,000 

550 28 $168,000 

700 32 $185,000 

Mr. Dumbaugh stated no other ancillary equipment was required. Additionally, he stated that the power 

requirements were based on the motor starters. The mixer drive would range from 2 hp for the smallest unit to 5 

hp for the largest unit. The scraper drive would be 0.25 hp for the largest unit.