PolyGhost ADS™ Annular Dewatering System architecture establishes a new class of sludge dewatering technology based on continuous circumferential processing rather than linear belt compression or high-G centrifugal separation.
 
PolyGhost ADS™ Annular Dewatering System defines a continuous circumferential processing architecture engineered for progressive mechanical and optional thermally assisted solids treatment within a fully enclosed annular geometry.
 
KRAKEN™ powered by PolyGhost ADS™ is the first commercial embodiment of this architecture.Unlike conventional belt filter presses or centrifuges, the KRAKEN™ system applies uniform, controlled radial pressure around an annular processing path, enabling continuous solids capture, progressive dewatering, and controlled cake discharge within a compact, fully enclosed architecture.​
 
The result is a step-change in footprint efficiency, enclosure, automation, and deployment flexibility allowing high-performance dewatering to be delivered as:​
• Modular inline systems
• Plug-and-play skid units
• Fully containerized, emergency-ready solutions​
 
Mechanical + Thermal Process (Optional) Architecture Designed from the ground up as a platform, ASD™ integrates:​
• Polymer activation
• Sludge conditioning
• Circumferential mechanical dewatering
• Enclosed solids handling
• Automation and process control
• Thermally assisted post-press drying capability.​
 
Through integration of a jacketed U-trough screw conveyor positioned downstream of the annular press zone, ASD™ can apply controlled thermal energy (steam, hot oil, or alternative heat transfer media) directly to the conveyed sludge cake.  
 
This enables:​
• Additional moisture reduction beyond mechanical limits
• Thermal conditioning during conveyance
• Bidirectional heated discharge capability
• Hybrid mechanical-thermal performance within a unified enclosure
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No conventional belt filter press integrates thermal drying within its discharge architecture.
 
No decanter centrifuge offers integrated post-press thermal enhancement within the same process stack.​
 
A Platform, Not a Machine​ 
 
ASD™ eliminates legacy bottlenecks, reduces chemical and energy demand, and redefines how sludge dewatering systems are engineered, deployed, and scaled.​
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It is not a retrofit concept.
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It is not an incremental improvement.​
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ASD™ establishes a new dewatering category:
 
A modular mechanical-thermal sludge processing architecture.​
2026 PATENT PENDING TECHNOLOGY

The KRAKEN™ unit is an enclosed annular sludge dewatering system designed around continuous circumferential processing rather than linear belt paths or high-G rotational separation.
 
Sludge is introduced into a 360° annular dewatering zone, where progressive mechanical pressure is applied uniformly along the circumferential path.
 
This geometry enables controlled dewatering without relying on extended machine length or extreme rotational speeds.
 
A defining feature of the unit is its integrated central solids collection and conveying system.

Dewatered solids are discharged radially inward and collected at the center of the press, where a built-in conveyor enables bidirectional discharge, simultaneous container filling, and flexible site layouts.
 
The system can optionally incorporate a thermally assisted conveying module, including a jacketed U-trough screw conveyor capable of transferring thermal energy (steam, hot oil, or other heat transfer media) to the dewatered cake during discharge.

This enables post-press moisture reduction beyond mechanical limits, providing an integrated mechanical-thermal solids conditioning architecture within the same enclosed system.
 
This configuration combining circumferential mechanical dewatering with optional in-line thermal enhancement is not achievable within conventional belt filter press or centrifuge architectures.
 
The system is fully enclosed, supporting odor control, operator safety, and containerized or modular deployment.

Capacity scaling is achieved through geometry and modular repetition, rather than by increasing belt length or rotational energy.
 
The result is a compact, infrastructure-ready mechanical-thermal dewatering platform that operates as a third architectural class alongside belt filter presses and decanter centrifuges.

 
2026 PATENT PENDING TECHNOLOGY

The KRAKEN annular dewatering architecture is a continuous sludge dewatering platform built around a circumferential belt path rather than the long linear path used by conventional belt filter presses.

Based on the current concept package, the system combines staged gravity drainage, progressive circumferential compression, final nip squeezing, enclosed cake discharge, integrated belt cleaning, and optional thermally assisted post-press conveyance.

This places it in a potential market position between conventional belt presses and centrifuges, with the possibility of extending toward hybrid mechanical-plus-thermal systems when an optional heated screw is added.
 

The purpose of this overview is to compare the annular architecture against the main dewatering technologies used today: belt filter presses, decanter centrifuges, screw presses, and filter presses.

The Annular Dewatering Concept

The current design documents describe a compact, enclosed annular belt filter press in which upper and lower belts travel along a circular path inside a closed press frame.

Sludge is introduced through an inlet system, enters staged dewatering zones, undergoes gravity drainage and progressive compression, then passes through a final nip/dewatering region before cake discharge.

The design also includes integrated cleaning, centrate collection, and optional downstream thermal finishing.

Key concept elements from the current design set include:

1. Annular belt path instead of a long linear belt run
Progressive dewatering around multiple circumferential zones

2. Final compression / polishing before cake discharge

3. Enclosed frame for odor and splash containment
Centralized cake discharge with integrated conveying

4. Belt cleaning and return routing inside the overall machine architecture

5. Optional heated screw or thermally assisted conveying for post-press moisture reduction

Why the Annular Architecture Is Different?

Traditional sludge dewatering machines generally fall into two major categories:

Low-energy mechanical presses such as belt presses and screw presses

Higher-intensity separation systems such as centrifuges and filter presses

The annular architecture is different because it changes the process geometry itself. Instead of extending residence time by making the machine longer, it increases effective process length by routing sludge and belts around a circumferential path.

In theory, this allows more dewatering stages, longer controlled compression time, and more compact machine layout.

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2026 PATENT PENDING TECHNOLOGY

1. Belt Filter Presses
How they work:

A conventional belt filter press uses a long linear path with an inlet zone, gravity drainage section, wedge zone, and roller compression section.

Strengths
Low electrical energy demand
Familiar to operators
Continuous operation
Well-established municipal and industrial market

Limitations
Large footprint
Open design with odor, splash, and hygiene issues
Limited compression path length
Performance can be sensitive to sludge quality and polymer control

Annular system compared with belt presses

The annular architecture keeps the belt-based mechanical dewatering logic but replaces the long straight path with a circular one.

This could allow:
Longer effective residence time in a smaller footprint
More gradual compression rather than abrupt wedge loading
Better enclosure and containment
More integrated cake handling

In market terms, the annular system can be positioned as a next-generation belt press architecture rather than a simple variation of a conventional belt press.

2. Decanter Centrifuges
How they work:

Decanter centrifuges use high rotational speed to create centrifugal force that separates solids and liquid.

Strengths
Compact footprint
Enclosed operation
High throughput relative to size
Often capable of higher cake solids than conventional belt presses

Limitations
High electrical energy demand
Higher rotational/mechanical complexity
More wear on internal components under abrasive duty
Often higher capital and maintenance cost

Annular system compared with centrifuges

The annular system is attractive because it may offer some centrifuge-like advantages without fully adopting centrifuge penalties.

Potential advantages include:
Enclosed operation
Compact footprint
Lower mechanical speed and likely lower energy demand
Continuous operation with simpler mechanical principles than a high-speed decanter

Its target market position would likely be:

better containment and compactness than a belt press, but lower energy and lower-speed mechanics than a centrifuge.

3. Screw Presses
How they work:

Screw presses dewater sludge by conveying solids through a slowly rotating screw against increasing resistance.

Strengths
Low energy use
Compact layout
Simple continuous operation
Good operator acceptance in many municipal plants

Limitations
Dryness often below centrifuge performance
Capacity and cake performance vary with sludge type
May be less effective where very high solids are required

Annular system compared with screw presses

The annular system could compete with screw presses on:
Compact footprint
Enclosed operation
Continuous mechanical dewatering
But it may have an advantage if the circumferential belt path delivers better staged dewatering and final compression than a screw press alone.

It may also provide more flexibility for integrating thermal finishing, dual-side discharge, or advanced belt-zone process control.

4. Filter Presses / Plate-and-Frame Presses
How they work:

Filter presses batch-process sludge by filling chambers and applying pressure through cloth media.

Strengths
Very high cake solids possible
Strong final dryness performance
Well suited where ultimate dryness outweighs simplicity or continuity

Limitations
Batch operation
Higher cycle complexity
More operator intervention in some installations
Larger support systems and longer process cycles

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Annular system compared with filter presses

The annular system is not a direct replacement for high-dryness chamber presses.

Instead, it may offer a different value proposition:
Continuous rather than batch processing
Smaller and more integrated operating footprint
Easier integration into continuous sludge treatment lines
Lower operational interruption

Its advantage would be process continuity and compactness rather than absolute maximum dryness.

Strategic Positioning of the Annular System:

A practical way to position the annular architecture is as a new category between belt presses and centrifuges:

Belt Press -> Annular Press -> Centrifuge

That positioning reflects the likely design intent:
lower energy / simpler mechanics closer to a belt press

more compact, enclosed, and performance-focused architecture closer to a centrifuge

With the optional heated screw or thermally assisted conveyor, the system could move further along the value scale:

Belt Press -> Annular Press -> Annular Press + Thermal Finishing -> Centrifuge / Dryer Crossover

This is especially important in applications where discharge quality, odor reduction, reduced stickiness, transportability, or preparation for downstream drying/pelletizing matter as much as raw cake solids.
 

2026 PATENT PENDING TECHNOLOGY

The KRAKEN™ ADS Plug-and-Play Systems are fully integrated sludge dewatering platforms built around PolyGhost’s proprietary, patent-pending Annular Sludge Dewatering (ASD™) architecture.
 
Each system is engineered as a self-contained, modular dewatering platform, designed to be delivered, connected, and commissioned with minimal site disruption.
 
Unlike conventional installations that require extensive civil works, multiple vendors, and complex field integration, KRAKEN Plug-and-Play Systems consolidate conditioning, dewatering, solids handling, thermal enhancement, and discharge into a single coordinated platform.
 
At the core of each system is the KRAKEN™ annular dewatering module, enabling continuous circumferential pressure application within a fully enclosed geometry.
 
This architecture supports compact layouts, centralized solids collection, controlled discharge, scalable throughput, and optional thermal post-press enhancement without the length, exposure, and fragmentation of traditional belt filter presses, and without the energy intensity of centrifuges.

KRAKEN™ Plug-and-Play System Configuration: 

OCTOPUS® OCTOBLOK™ Polymer Activation Systems
All-in-one pneumatic polymer dosing, mixing, activation, aging, and inline sludge maceration, eliminating external mixers and standalone dosing pumps while protecting downstream processes.
 
OCTOPUS DOSIMACERATOR™ Inline Sludge Maceration & Protection
Continuous sludge poly-conditioning and debris maceration for upstream protection, ensuring stable annular dewatering performance and long-term belt integrity.
 
GHOST® Progressive Cavity Pumps
Heavy-duty, low-shear progressive cavity pumping systems for precise and stable transfer of sludge, polymer, and solids across the PolyGhost® platform.
 
KRAKEN™ ASD Annular Dewatering Modules
Proprietary, patent-pending Annular Sludge Dewatering (ASD™) units applying continuous circumferential mechanical pressure within an enclosed geometry.
 
Modules are sized and staged to match process demand and enable centralized, automated sludge collection and controlled solids discharge directly from the annular dewatering core, supporting programmable, bidirectional, and enclosed solids handling.
 
KRAKEN ADS Central Conveyance & Thermal Discharge Systems
Integrated shaftless spiral U-trough conveyors engineered for centralized solids extraction from the annular core.
 
These systems provide:
• Bidirectional cake discharge capability
• Simultaneous dual-container loading
• Enclosed solids transfer
• Modular routing flexibility
 
Optional configurations include jacketed thermal conveyance modules, allowing controlled heat transfer (steam, hot oil, or alternative media) during cake transport to enhance post-press moisture reduction.
 
This enables the KRAKEN™ platform to operate as a mechanical-thermal hybrid dewatering architecture, extending performance beyond conventional mechanical separation systems.
 
GHOST Scooper VAULT™ Robotic and Enclosed Transport & Discharge Systems
Fully enclosed robotic solids distribution and discharge for containerized loading or direct-to-haul transport, minimizing odor, spillage, fugitive emissions, and operator exposure.
 
GHOST™ Automatic Self-Cleaning Centrate Filtration
Inegrated self-cleaning filtration systems designed to recover residual sludge particles from centrate streams, improving centrate clarity and overall process efficiency.
 
Integrated Instrumentation & Flow Control
Inline flow meters, automated control and isolation valves, pressure and level sensors, and coordinated process instrumentation across all system stages.
 
Schneider Electric® Control & Automation Platforms
Centralized PLC, HMI, and remote monitoring architectures enabling synchronized operation, real-time data visibility, diagnostics, and seamless SCADA integration.
 
Flexible Deployment Formats
 
Factory-integrated systems delivered as:
• Single deployable skids
• ISO containerized units
• Trailer-mounted platforms
 
Suitable for permanent, temporary, mobile, or emergency applications.
KRAKEN™ ADS Plug-and-Play Systems transform sludge dewatering from a site-specific construction project into deployable process infrastructure.
PolyGhost is not a product.

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It is a sludge dewatering platform.

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2026 PATENT PENDING TECHNOLOGY

The KRAKEN™ ADS GRID is a modular annular sludge dewatering system architecture configured to process sludge through continuous circumferential dewatering while enabling scalable capacity through the interconnection of multiple standardized dewatering modules.
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The system is composed of one or more KRAKEN™ ADS Modules, each forming a fully enclosed annular belt dewatering unit in which conditioned sludge is conveyed along a closed circumferential path. As sludge advances around the annular geometry, free water is removed through gravity drainage and progressively increasing mechanical pressure is applied by converging belt interfaces, resulting in controlled and uniform dewatering without reliance on extended linear frames or high-speed rotational forces.
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Multiple ADS Modules may be interconnected within the GRID to operate as a coordinated system. Overall throughput is increased by adding modules in parallel rather than by increasing machine length, belt speed, or rotational energy.
 
This modular architecture enables phased expansion, redundancy, and flexible site layouts while maintaining consistent process behavior across scales.
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A defining feature of the ADS GRID is its centralized solids discharge and integrated conveying architecture, whereby dewatered sludge is discharged radially inward from each annular module and transferred directly to a central conveyor system. This configuration enables bidirectional discharge, shared solids handling infrastructure, and compact plant arrangements that are not achievable with conventional linear belt filter presses or decanter centrifuges.
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The ADS GRID supports enclosed operation and may be deployed in containerized, skid-mounted, or permanent installations. By governing performance through geometry and modular repetition, the system avoids the mechanical escalation, wear intensity, and operational constraints associated with traditional sludge dewatering technologies.
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Accordingly, the KRAKEN™ ADS GRID represents a distinct architectural class of sludge dewatering, positioned alongside belt filter presses and centrifuges, and is suited for facilities requiring scalable capacity, compact footprints, and infrastructure-ready deployment.

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2026 PATENT PENDING TECHNOLOGY
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