An underground drainage channel in Malaysia required sludge removal without sending workers into the confined space. With the channel approximately 1 meter wide and mainly filled with sludge, the customer needed a compact cleaning solution that could operate remotely.
Elephant Dredging recommended and supplied the YG450 compact dredging robot for the project. Its compact design and remote-controlled operation allowed the customer to carry out sludge removal without requiring personnel to enter the underground channel.
Drainage Channel Sludge Removal Robot Parameters
| Parameter | YG450 | YG500 | YG600 | YG700 | YG800 | YG900 | YG1200 |
| Robot Dimensions (mm) | ≤1700 × 450 × 450 | 1500 × 500 × 650 | 1500 × 600 × 650 | 1600 × 700 × 650 | 1600 × 850 × 700 | 1650 × 960 × 750 | 1900 × 1200 × 750 |
| Applicable Manhole / Access | ≥600 mm opening | ≥600 mm opening | ≥600 mm opening | ≥700 mm opening | ≥800 mm opening | ≥900 mm opening | Large culvert / open access |
| Dredging Width (mm) | 450 | 500 | 600 | 700 | 800 | 900 | Suitable for large culverts |
| Travel Speed (m/s) | 3–12 | 3–15 | 3–15 | 3–15 | 3–15 | 3–15 | 0–17 m/min |
| Pump Diameter (inch) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 or 6 |
| Pump Flow (m³/h) | 50 | 100 | 100 | 160 | 160 | 200 | 250 |
| Pump Head (m) | 0-30 | 0–30 | 0–30 | 0–25 | 0–25 | 0–25 | 0–30 (Horizontal: 100–150 m) |
| Hydraulic Station Dimensions (mm) | 2000 × 1100 × 1500 (recommended) | 2200 × 1200 × 1700 | 2200 × 1200 × 1700 | 2200 × 1200 × 1700 | 2200 × 1200 × 1700 | 2200 × 1200 × 1700 | 2120 × 1240 × 1200 |
| Main Motor Power (kW) | 11–15 kW | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 45 kW (50 kW) / Diesel 76 kW (123 kW) |
| Hydraulic System Pressure (MPa) | 0–16 | 0–16 | 0–16 | 0–16 | 0–16 | 0–16 | Custom / high-pressure system |
| Particle Size Capacity (mm) | ≤10–20 mm (soft sludge) | 15 | 15 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 0–40 (customizable) |
| Winch Speed (r/min) | 0–10 | 0–10 | 0–10 | 0–10 | 0–10 | 0–10 | 0–10 |
| Pipe Length (m) | 20–30 optional | 30–50 optional | 30–50 optional | 30–50 optional | 30–50 optional | 30–50 optional | 30 m/pack, high-pressure resistant |
| Control System | Wireless Remote Control | Wireless Remote | Wireless Remote | Wireless Remote | Wireless Remote | Wireless Remote | Wireless Remote |
| Lighting System | Underwater LED ×2 | Underwater LED ×2 | Underwater LED ×2 | Underwater LED ×2 | Underwater LED ×2 | Underwater LED ×2 | Underwater LED ×2 |
Get the Right Model for Your Project
Customer Requirement: Remove Sludge from an Underground Drainage Channel
The customer needed to remove accumulated sludge from an underground drainage channel in Malaysia.
The main project requirements were:
- Underground working environment
- Channel width of approximately 1 meter
- Sludge as the main deposited material
- No manual entry into the channel
- Remote-controlled operation required
The limited working space made conventional manual cleaning difficult. The customer therefore needed a compact machine that could enter the channel and be operated from outside.
YG450 Compact Dredging Robot Solution
Based on the channel width and working conditions, Elephant Dredging recommended the YG450 dredging robot.
The YG450 is a compact remote-controlled dredging robot designed for sludge and sediment removal in confined-access environments. For this Malaysian project, the machine was selected to provide a practical alternative to manual entry.
The solution focused on three key requirements:
- Compact access: Suitable for confined underground working areas where larger equipment may not be practical.
- Remote operation: Operators can control the robot from outside the underground channel, avoiding the need for personnel to enter the working area.
- Sludge removal: The robot is designed to loosen and remove sludge under suitable site conditions, with the dredged material transferred through the pumping system.
How the YG450 Handles Underground Sludge Removal?
The cleaning process depends on the condition and consistency of the deposited sludge.
Where sludge is compacted, the working system can be used to loosen or break up the deposits. Water may be added when necessary to help mobilize the material into a pumpable slurry. The slurry can then be transferred out through the remote pumping system.
This break, mobilize, and pump approach is more suitable for sludge that can be converted into a pumpable mixture than for completely dry or highly solid deposits.
The actual cleaning performance depends on factors such as sludge consistency, sediment thickness, water content, access conditions, and pumping distance.
Delivered to Malaysia for Underground Drainage Cleaning
The YG450 dredging robot was delivered to the Malaysian customer for the underground drainage channel application.
The compact machine was selected according to the approximately 1-meter-wide channel and the customer’s requirement for remote operation. Instead of requiring workers to enter the underground space, the robot could be controlled from outside during the cleaning process.
After using the equipment, the customer reported that the YG450 performed very well for the application.
Why Use a Remote-Controlled Dredging Robot for Underground Drainage Channels?
Underground drainage channels can present difficult working conditions when sludge accumulates and direct manual access is restricted.
A compact remote-controlled dredging robot can provide an alternative approach when the site has sufficient access for the machine and the deposited material is suitable for mechanical removal and pumping.
For similar projects, equipment selection should consider:
- Channel width and access opening
- Channel depth and internal layout
- Sludge type and consistency
- Sludge thickness
- Required pumping distance
- Available water for sludge mobilization
- Power and operating conditions
These factors should be reviewed before selecting the robot configuration.
YG450 Dredging Robot for Confined-Access Sludge Removal
The Malaysia project demonstrates one application of the YG450 compact dredging robot in an underground drainage environment.
For drainage channels, underground passages, tanks, and other confined-access areas, Elephant Dredging can evaluate the working dimensions and sludge conditions to recommend a suitable dredging robot and pumping configuration.
Need to remove sludge from an underground drainage channel? Contact Elephant Dredging with your channel dimensions, access conditions, sludge type, and required pumping distance for a suitable solution.
