Water Recirculating Vegetable Drum Washer

This drum washer is a version especially made for Mana Culture by Willsie Equipment Sales that incorporates several elements that can bring further efficiency.

It is suitable for washing most bulk root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets, celeriac, parsnips, rutabaga, winter radishes, turnips, Jerusalem artichokes and can work in a continuous flow or in batch.

The washer is loaded at one end either manually or using a bin dumper. The tumbling action of the vegetables coupled with the flow of water evacuates dirt down in the bin. Water is drained after the washing session and trapped dirt (sediments) is scooped out and brought back in the field.

Characteristics: 

• Quickly washes all bulk root crops;
• Significantly reduces water consumption and wastewater production by recirculating water. Water can be renewed once a day. This saves water for other uses on the farm (irrigation, other washing equipment, domestic water, etc);
• Reduces sediment evacuation in the environment. Sediments can be brought back in the field;
• The powerful water recirculation pump allows for a sufficient flow of water for washing in seconds. Depending on the stickiness of the soil, a batch can be washed in under a minute;
• Batch use: can contain up to 150 lbs of vegetables per batch;
• Wheel option: makes moving the drum away easier for tank emptying;
• Variable speed drive: makes it possible to operate a various rotation speeds. Fragile vegetables, like potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes can be tumbled more gently, thus reducing bruises. Carrots, celeriac, parsnip can be washed faster at a higher speed while radishes, rutabaga, turnips and beets do good at medium speed;
• A filter around the recirculation pump prevents large debris from clogging the system;
• Tumbling action is promoted via stopper pipes inside the barrel. Their angle can be changed in order to control vegetable flow towards the exit;
• A rinsing nozzle is provided if a last rinse with clean water is desired at the outlet;
• Outlet is located at a proper height to discharge directly either in small crates or into a 30″ high bin.

Mana Culture additions to the original machine: 

• Option to add a valve and discharge hose at the bottom of the bin enabling discharging wastewater wherever needed without moving the bin;
• Since debris inevitably end up clogging the water distribution pipe after a period of washing, a purge valve has been added to the end of the distribution pipe;
• Addition of a finer filter around the pump to prevent debris from clogging the water distribution pipe;
• A plate has been welded around the output to prevent vegetable overflow, which enables washing 150 lbs of vegetables instead of 100 lbs per batch;
• Adapters are welded below the inlet, preparing for installation of a wider opening for straightforward integration with a conveyor-feeder or with a bin dumper as a means of feeding the washer.