Product Overview
Engineers worldwide accept the wedge design to be resistant to clogging. This patented design is made by injection moulding using virgin non corrosive engineering grade polymers for specific ground conditions which saves on initial cost, maintenance and replacement.
The design also incorporates parallel outer fins which enhance compressive strength underground and radial water flow to reduce energy loss. These outer fins also protect the wedge shaped openings from damage during transport, handling and installation.
The first applications were in the mid 1980’s for agricultural subsoil drains at Meerlust Estates and De Hoop Estates in South Africa and continue to work as designed after more than 20 years. This success led to the development for borehole screens which have proven themselves in field trials which compared performance with imported stainless steel wedge wire screens. Some other proven applications have been pressure relief wells for several large state owned earth embankment dams in South Africa and Namibia and for leak detectors, environmental clean up and rehabilitation, water intakes and production boreholes.
Soloflo®’s proven wedge design opening borehole screens and drainage pipes are an engineered solution for Water Wells, Construction Expedients, Subsoil Drains and Environmental Applications. This promotes a long term solution which becomes very cost effective by removing the need for maintenance and replacement. This makes the client or end user happy.
Features and benefits
HIGH STRENGTH MATERIAL
Soloflo screens are made from ABS = Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene which is a virgin high impact grade polymer.
Parallel Outer Fins
The Parallel Outer Fins enhance compressive strength underground, promote radial and laminar flow, reduce energy loss, protect the wedge shape openings.
CORROSION RESISTANCE
Extends service life, performance, minimises biofouling and eliminates water quality constraints in all applications.
RELIABLILTY
Using proven wedge opening technology for the applications engineer.
EXTENDED SERVICE LIFE
Meeting long term service and performance goals to achieving lower unit costs with an extended life-time
ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE
Non-tainting and non-toxic products
EASY TO INSTALL AND USE
Soloflo® wedge opening screens are easy to assemble on-site with flush threaded inside diameter (ID) & outside diameter (OD) joints.
The flush OD prevents bridging of gravel filter packs during placement. The flush ID does not restrict development tools and other equipment.
Wedge Opening sizes
A soil grading would be ideal to assist in choosing the correct wedge opening size.
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| 0,25mm opening | 0.5mm opening | 0.75mm opening | 1mm opening |
Product Evolution
Generation 1: Cut slots in plastic and steel
Twisting and turning of elongated particles can clog parallel openings. Water flow is excessively turbulent at the entrance to the slot, causing enegy loss which can cause chemical reactions through the release of gases.This causes excessive drawdown. The nett results are higher pumping and maintenance costs above and below ground.
Generation 2: Wedge wire steel wrapped screens
Only two points of contact occur at the inlet to the screen. If the elongated particles can pass through the inlet, this wedge shaped opening creates no restriction as the particles turn which assists the development process.
Generation 3: Soloflo® Wedge Opening Screens
Wedge opening screens promote the development of the reverse filter, reduce drawdown and are also proven to be resistant to clogging
Flow Rates
The following optimal flow rates assume a velocity of not more than 0.03 m per second as recommended by Johnson Filtration Systems Inc. Using 0.03 m per second, the optimal flow rate per metre of screen to be expected would be:
| 150mm Screen ID | Percentage of open area | Litres per second | Litres per hour | |
| 0.25mm Opening | 2,67% | 0.40 | 1 462 | |
| 0.50mm Opening | 5,32% | 0.81 | 2 925 | |
| 0.75mm Opening | 7,98% | 1.22 | 4 388 | |
| 1.00mm Opening | 10,64% | 1.62 | 5 850 | |
| 200mm Screen ID | Percentage of open area | Litres per second | Litres per hour | |
| 0.25mm Opening | 2,42% | 0.48 | 1 741 | |
| 0.50mm Opening | 4,84% | 0.97 | 3 482 | |
| 0.75mm Opening | 7,27% | 1.45 | 5 231 | |
| 1.00mm Opening | 9,69% | 1.94 | 6 972 |
These optimal flow rates need to consider the characteristics of the aquifer whereby these flow rates will be determined further by, amongst other things:
1. The available head of the aquifer.
2. Transmissivity of the aquifer.
3. Thickness of the aquifer.