In 2026, a Thai industrial customer contacted Elephant Dredging through our website to find a safer and more efficient way to clean a large concrete water supply tank.
The tank measures approximately 20 × 20 m, with a depth of 4–5 m and a capacity of about 1,500 m³. However, access is limited to a 1.5 × 1.5 m opening with stairs, making it difficult to bring conventional cleaning equipment into the tank.
The customer needed a compact robot that could enter through the existing opening, remove accumulated sludge from the tank bottom, and transfer it through a sludge discharge system. They also wanted to minimize water loss by recovering relatively clear water and use cameras and lights to monitor the operation remotely.
Customized Sludge Tank Cleaning Robot Solution
After reviewing the tank dimensions, access conditions, and cleaning requirements, Elephant Dredging recommended a customized YG450 Sludge Tank Cleaning Robot.
The compact YG450 was selected specifically for its suitability for restricted-access applications. The robot was configured with several additional systems to meet the customer’s requirements:
- Front-mounted cutting head for breaking up compacted sludge
- Auger system for loosening and moving sludge toward the suction inlet
- Sludge suction hose for continuous sludge removal
- Remote transfer pump for transporting sludge out of the tank
- Camera and working lights for real-time visual monitoring
- Sludge-water separation system for separating solids from water and allowing relatively clear water to be recovered where site conditions permit
This configuration combines mechanical sludge loosening, suction, pumping, monitoring, and water recovery into one integrated cleaning solution.
How the YG450 Cleans the Tank?
The YG450 is lowered into the tank through the existing 1.5 × 1.5 m access opening using lifting equipment and positioned on the tank bottom.
During operation, the front-mounted cutting head breaks up compacted sludge, while the auger system moves the loosened material toward the suction inlet.
The sludge slurry is then pumped through the discharge hose by the remote transfer pump and transported to the designated treatment or disposal area.
To minimize water loss, the discharged slurry can pass through a sludge-water separation system. After separation, relatively clear water can be returned to the tank when it meets the customer’s required water quality conditions.
Cameras and working lights allow the operator to monitor the robot and cleaning area remotely, helping identify remaining sludge and adjust the robot’s working position as needed.
Why This Solution Works for Large Water Tanks？
The project required more than simply a small cleaning machine.
The equipment had to pass through a restricted entrance while still providing sufficient capability for a 20 × 20 m water tank.
The customized YG450 addresses this requirement through:
Compact access + mechanical sludge breaking + suction removal + remote pumping + visual monitoring + water recovery.
This allows the customer to clean the tank using a more mechanized process without relying entirely on manual sludge removal.
The combination of a sludge tank cleaning robot and sludge-water separation system is also particularly useful where large quantities of water would otherwise need to be discharged during tank maintenance.
A Solution Designed Around the Customer’s Tank
This Thailand project demonstrates the importance of customizing robotic cleaning equipment according to actual site conditions.
ELEPHANT Dredging did not simply recommend a standard robot. The final configuration was determined by the customer’s:
- Tank size and depth
- Access opening
- Concrete tank structure
- Sludge accumulation
- Sludge discharge distance
- Water recovery requirements
- Remote monitoring requirements
The result was a compact YG450 sludge tank cleaning robot configured specifically for the customer’s water supply tank.
Elephant Dredging – Robotic Sludge Removal Solutions
ELEPHANT Dredging specializes in robotic equipment for sludge removal, tank cleaning, and difficult-access cleaning applications.
Our engineering team can customize the robot according to tank dimensions, access conditions, sludge characteristics, pumping distance, and site requirements.
For facilities looking for a sludge tank cleaning robot, tank cleaning solution, or remote sludge removal system, send us your tank dimensions, access opening size, sludge condition, and discharge requirements.
Our engineers can recommend a suitable configuration for your project.
