Jet Boosting in Hydraulic Dredging

The introduction of a jet boost into the suction line of hydraulic dredgers is employed widely, the objective being to enhance production without increasing the capacity of the main dredge pump. Claims have been made for substantial increases in uptake of bed materials by in-line boosting but because of the inherent variability of dredging conditions, particularly at sea, such claims are often difficult either to substantiate or to refute. Theoretical considerations indicate that for typical installations the uptake of solids even may be reduced by boosting in the conventional manner, and therefore, it would seem appropriate to reappraise the value of boosting in hydraulic dredging systems.