CA2942960A1 - Pump enclosures for mature fine tailings normalization - Google Patents

Abstract

According to embodiments described in the specification, a pump enclosure is provided.
The pump enclosure includes at least one wall defining a chamber for enclosing a pump;
and at least one opening in the wall permitting passage of a material to be pumped. At least a portion of the wall is at a distance greater than a threshold from an inlet of the pump.

Description

PUMP ENCLOSURES FOR MATURE FINE TAILINGS NORMALIZATION
Cross Reference to Related Application This application claims priority from US Provisional Patent Application No.

filed on December 22, 2015.
Technical Field [0001] The specification relates generally to pumping systems, and specifically to a pump enclosure for pumping systems.
Background of the Disclosure

[0002] Used process fluid from mining or oil and gas operations is conventionally placed in tailings ponds. The process fluid is generally water carrying various suspended solids, including sand and clay particles. In a tailings pond, the suspended solids can settle into a layer of material referred to as mature fine tailings (MFT), at the bottom of the tailings pond. The MFT material, a portion of which may still be water, can simply be left in the tailings pond to thicken and solidify; however, this process may take an impractically long period of time. Therefore, attempts have been made to recover the MFT from tailings ponds for treatment (such as drying, solidification, heavy metal extraction and further bitumen recovery) and final land reclamation.

[0003] Conventional attempts to recover MFT from tailings ponds involve placing pumps into the MFT layer in a tailings pond and pumping the MFT out of the tailings pond. Such attempts are complicated by the varying consistency of the MFT
material ) and, particularly, the presence of debris such as tree branches, other vegetation and industrial debris in the MFT. The presence of such debris in the MFT layer can lead to frequent periods of downtime for maintenance, requiring pump removal from the tailings pond to clear debris from the pump inlets, or repair of clogged and/or damaged pumps following the ingestion of debris.
Summary

[0004] In a first aspect, there is provided a pump enclosure. The pump enclosure includes at least one wall defining a chamber for enclosing a pump, and at least one opening in the wall permitting passage of a material to be pumped. At least a portion of the wall is at a distance greater than a threshold from an inlet of the pump.

[0005] By reducing or preventing the entry of debris to within at least a threshold distance of the pump inlet, the pump enclosure may not only reduce the likelihood of pump blockage/damage, but may also restrain debris at a sufficient distance from the pump inlet that the likelihood of the debris impinging against the outside of the enclosure and clogging one or more openings in the enclosure is reduced. Such enclosures may therefore facilitate the process of pumping thick debris entrained tailings (e.g. MFT) such as those generated as a by-product of the oil sands extraction process.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the threshold is an inlet diameter of the pump.

[0007] In certain embodiments, the threshold is a multiple of the inlet diameter.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the at least one wall includes a side wall having first and second ends, and a lower wall connected to the second end of the side wall.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the side wall is substantially cylindrical.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings defined through side wall.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the side wall includes a plurality of rods connected to the lower wall, and the plurality of openings are defined between adjacent ones of the rods.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the at least one wall includes an upper wall connected to the first end of the side wall.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the upper wall includes an opening therein for receiving the pump.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the pump enclosure further includes at least one macerator.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the at least one macerator is mounted in an opening in the side wall. The macerator has an inlet for receiving material from the exterior of the chamber, and an outlet for discharging the material into the chamber.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the at least one macerator is mounted adjacent to the side wall. The macerator has an inlet for receiving material from the exterior of the chamber, and an outlet for discharging the material to the exterior of the chamber.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the at least one macerator is mounted moveably adjacent to the side wall.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the side wall and the lower wall are impermeable.

,

[0019] In certain embodiments, the opening in the upper wall is configured to receive a plurality of pumps.

[0020] In certain embodiments, the opening in the upper wall is configured to surround a barge supporting the plurality of pumps.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the upper wall is buoyant.

[0022] Other aspects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of the inventions disclosed.
Description of the Figures

[0023] The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 1 depicts a pump system including a pump enclosure, according to a non-limiting embodiment;

[0025] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict an embodiment of the pump enclosure of FIG. 1, according to a non-limiting embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 3 depicts another pump enclosure, according to a non-limiting embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 4 depicts a further pump enclosure, according to a non-limiting embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 5 depicts a still further pump enclosure, according to a non-limiting embodiment; and

[0029] FIGS. 6A and 6B depict yet another pump enclosure, according to a non-limiting embodiment.
Detailed Description

[0030] Figure 1 depicts a pump system 100 for use in a body of fluid 104. The body of fluid 104 can contain any one of, or any combination of, used or unused process water, treated wastewater effluent, mature fine tailings (MFT), slurry and the like, resulting from mining operations and related activities. In the present example embodiment, the body of fluid 104 contains a bed of MFT 108 adjacent to a bottom 112 of the body of fluid 104. In addition, the MFT 108 or any other portion of the body of fluid 104 can contain debris 116, such as vegetation (e.g. tree branches). The pump system 100 is operated to reclaim the MFT 108 from the body of fluid 104 and deliver the reclaimed MFT to other equipment (not shown) for processing, such as drying and disposal.

[0031] The pump system 100 includes a pump support 120, such as a barge configured to float at a surface 124 of the body of fluid 104. The pump support 120 supports a pump 128, such as a submersible vertical turbine pump (VTP), from a line 132. The line 132 can include a fluid discharge hose from the pump 128, as well as one or more conduits for supplying power to the pump 128 and exchanging control data with the pump 128. In other embodiments, the fluid discharge hose can be separated from the line 132.

[0032] In addition, the system 100 includes a pump enclosure 136. The pump enclosure 136 includes one or more walls defining a chamber 138 for enclosing the pump 128. At least one of the walls defining the chamber 138 includes at least one opening therein for permitting the entry of material (such as MFT) into the chamber 138, to be collected by the pump 128 and delivered to the pump support 120 or other equipment for processing. The opening can also be configured to reduce or eliminate the entry of debris 116 or other material into the pump enclosure 136 that may damage the pump 128 or interrupt the operation of the pump 128. Further, when the pump enclosure 136 is installed around the pump 128, the distance between at least a portion of the walls of the pump enclosure 136 and an inlet of the pump 128 is greater than a predefined threshold.
The pump, when in operation, 128 exerts suction pressure on material surrounding the inlet. The suction pressure exerted by the pump 128 causes the material to move towards the inlet at an increasing radial velocity. This fluid velocity is proportional to the distance from the pump suction and decreases radially from the pump inlet. The filtering action of the walls of the pump enclosure 136, in the relatively low velocity field, located at some radial distance from the pump suction, effectively increases the filtration efficiency of the present invention over that of a simple pump strainer for two reasons: the lower transit velocity of the media through the screen of the pump enclosure reduces the pressure drop across the screen and the larger surface area of the pump enclosure screen, as compared to the pump suction strainer, provides a larger surface area than the pump strainer thereby reducing the possibility of total flow blockage.

[0033] The threshold distance is selected such that beyond the threshold distance, the velocity of material that is pulled towards the inlet of the pump 128 is reduced sufficiently to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of material (e.g. debris 116) clogging the above-mentioned opening in the walls of the pump enclosure 136. Various embodiments of the pump enclosure 136 will be described in greater detail below.

[0034] Referring now to Figure 2A, the pump support 120 is illustrated with two pumps 128 suspended therefrom into the body of fluid 104 by respective lines 132. In other embodiments, more than two pumps 128 can be suspended from the pump support 120. In further embodiments a single pump 128 can be suspended from the pump support 120.

[0035] One of the pumps 128 suspended from the pump support 120 is enclosed in a pump enclosure 136. In other embodiments, both pumps 128 suspended from the pump support 120 can be enclosed in respective pump enclosures. More generally, in some embodiments every pump 128 suspended from the pump support 120 can be enclosed in a pump enclosure 136.

[0036] The chamber 138 of the pump enclosure 136 is defined by a side wall 200, a lower wall 204 and an upper wall 208. The side wall 200 is a substantially cylindrical side wall in the present example. In other embodiments, the side wall 200 can have the shape of a rectangular prism. The side wall 200 is connected at a lower end to the lower wall 204, and at an opposite, upper end to the upper wall 208.

[0037] As mentioned earlier, the pump enclosure 136 includes at least one opening to allow entry of material from the body of fluid 104 into the pump enclosure 136 for collection by the pump 128. In the present example, the side wall 200 includes a plurality of spaced apart rods 212 (see Figure 2B) extending between the upper wall 208 and the lower wall 204. The at least one opening thus includes a plurality of openings, each opening being defined by the space between two adjacent rods 212. In other embodiments, the side wall 200 can include a mesh instead of the set of rods 212 shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

[0038] The pump enclosure 136 can include further openings in addition to those defined in the side wall 200. For example, the lower wall 204 of the pump enclosure 136 can also include additional openings. In the example illustrated in Figures 2A
and 2B, the lower wall 204 includes a ring 216 and a plurality of rods 220 extending along chords of the ring 216 (that is, from one point on an inner side of the ring 216 to another point on the inner side). The spaces between adjacent ones of the rods 220 are openings in the lower wall 204.

[0039] In some embodiments, the upper wall 208 can also include an opening therein.
For example, as seen in Figure 2A, the upper wall 208 includes an opening 224 therethrough to allow passage of the line 132. In some embodiments, the opening 224 can also be large enough to allow passage of the pump 128 therethrough. In such embodiments, the enclosure 136 can be installed in the body of fluid 104, for example by anchoring the enclosure (e.g. via the lower wall 204 and/or upper wall 208) to the bottom 112 of the body of fluid 104. One or both of the lower wall 204 and the upper wall 208 can be buoyant, to maintain the orientation of the enclosure 136 relative to the bottom 112. Once the enclosure 136 is installed, the pump 128 can be lowered from the pump support 120 into the enclosure 136 via the opening 224. The position of the pump 128 can also be adjusted within the chamber 138 during operation by spooling or unspooling the line 132 from the pump support 120.

[0040] The pump enclosure 136 can also include further openings defined in the side wall 200. In particular, as seen in Figures 2A and 2B, a plurality of openings in the side wall 200 can each accommodate a macerator 228. In the present embodiment, the pump enclosure 136 includes four macerators 228. In other embodiments, more than four macerators 228 can be included. In further embodiments, as few as zero macerators 228 can be included in the pump enclosure 136 (that is, the macerators 228 can be omitted entirely). Further, the position of the macerators 228 can be varied. In the present example, the macerators 228 protrude through the side wall 200 adjacent to the lower wall 204. In other embodiments, the macerators 228 can be placed in the side wall 200 at any suitable location intermediate to the lower wall 204 and the upper wall 208. In further embodiments, each macerator 228 can be placed at a different height in the side wall 200 from the other macerators 228.

[0041] Each of the macerators 228 includes an inlet for receiving material from the body of fluid 104, one or more grinding or cutting mechanisms for reducing breaking the material received at the inlet into pieces, and an outlet for discharging the pieces into the chamber 138. Power supply and control signals for the macerators 228 can travel along the line 132 or be supplied from a separate floating companion barge.

[0042] As also mentioned earlier, the distance between at least a portion of the walls 200, 204 and 208 and an inlet 232 of the pump 128 is greater than a predetermined threshold. In the present example, the predetermined threshold distance is a fraction or multiple of the diameter "D" of an inlet 232 of the pump 128. In some embodiments, the threshold is equivalent to at least one inlet diameter. Thus, for a pump inlet diameter of about eight inches, the threshold distance is about eight inches from the pump inlet. In further embodiments, the threshold is equivalent to at least two inlet diameters. Thus, for a pump inlet diameter of about eight inches, the threshold distance is about sixteen inches from the pump inlet. In other embodiments, the threshold is equivalent to a greater multiple of the inlet diameter than two. In further embodiments, the threshold is equivalent to a multiple of the inlet diameter that is between one and two.

[0043] Thus, at least a portion of at least one of the side wall 200, the lower wall 204 and the upper wall 208 is further from the inlet 232 than the threshold distance as defined above. In the present embodiment, the entirety of each of the walls 200, 204 and 208 are further from the inlet 232 than the threshold distance as defined above.
Maintaining at least the threshold distance between the inlet 232 and at least a portion of the walls of the enclosure 136 reduces the velocity of material (imparted by the pump 128) at the openings in the walls of the enclosure 136, and therefore can reduce the likelihood of the openings becoming clogged with debris. In addition, the outlets of each the macerators 228 are preferably further from the inlet 232 than the threshold distance as defined above.
This allows the macerated flow stream to blend and normalize prior to passage through the pump suction strainer reducing the possibility of pump suction blockage.

[0044] Referring now to Figure 3, a pump enclosure 336 according to a further embodiment is illustrated. The pump enclosure 336 defines a chamber 338 within a side wall 300 connected between a lower wall 304 and an upper wall 308. The side wall 300 is substantially cylindrical in the present embodiment. In other embodiments, the side wall 300 can have other configurations, including the shape of a rectangular prism.
The side wall 300 includes a plurality of spaced apart rods 312, and thus defines openings between adjacent rods 312. The lower wall 304 includes a ring 316 and a plurality of rods 320 extending along chords of the inner side of the ring 316, thus forming additional openings between the chamber 338 and the exterior of the chamber 338.

[0045] In addition, the upper wall 308 defines an opening 324 therein.
While the pump enclosure 136 illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B enclosed a single pump 128, the pump enclosure 336 encloses a plurality of pumps 128. In particular, the opening 324 in the upper wall 308 is sufficiently large to surround the entirety of the pump support 120.
The chamber 338 defined by the upper wall 308, the side wall 300 and the lower wall 304 is sufficiently large to enclose the plurality of pumps 128 suspended from the pump support 120.

[0046] In the installed position, the pump enclosure 336 can be anchored to the bottom 112 of the body of fluid 104, for example by anchor lines connected to the lower wall 304 and/or the upper wall 308. The upper wall 308, the lower wall 304, or both, can be buoyant to assist in maintaining the orientation of the pump enclosure 336.
The upper wall 308 can lie below the surface 124 in the installed position in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a portion of the upper wall 308 can rise above the surface 124 of the body of fluid 104. In such embodiments, the portion of the upper wall 308 that rises above the surface 124 may provide protection for the pump support 120 from waves and debris floating on the surface 124.

[0047] As seen in Figure 3, the distance from the inlet of each pump 128 enclosed within the pump enclosure 336 exceeds the above-mentioned threshold distance of the inlet diameter "D" of the pump 128.

[0048] Referring now to Figure 4, a further embodiment is illustrated in the form of a pump enclosure 436. Certain components of the pump enclosure 436 are as described above in connection with the pump enclosure 336. Those components bear similar reference characters to the components of the pump enclosure 336, but with a leading '4' rather than a leading '3'. Thus, the chamber 438, the side wall 400, the lower wall 404, the upper wall 408, are as described above in connection with the chamber 338, the side wall 300, the lower wall 304, the upper wall 308, respectively. The same principle applies to the ring 416, the rods 412 and 420, and the opening 424.

[0049] In addition, the pump enclosure 436 includes a plurality of macerators 428 mounted in the side wall 400. As described in connection with the macerators 228 shown in Figure 2, the macerators 428 collect material from outside the chamber 438, grind or cut the material, and discharge the ground or cut material into the chamber 438. In the present embodiment, the pump enclosure 436 includes ten macerators 428 (eight macerators 428 are visible in Figure 4). In other embodiments, fewer than ten macerators 428 can be provided, including zero macerators, as seen in the embodiment of Figure 3.
In further embodiments, a number of macerators 428 greater than ten may be provided.
The positions of the macerators 428 can also be varied within the side wall 400.

[0050] Referring to Figure 5, a further pump enclosure 536 is illustrated. The pump enclosure 536 includes a chamber 538 defined by a side wall 500, a lower wall 504 and an upper wall 508. As in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4, the pump enclosure 536 surrounds the pump support 120 and thus the chamber 538 encloses all the pumps suspended from the pump support 120. However, the walls 500, 504 and 508 of the pump enclosure 536 are solid and impermeable, rather than made of rods or mesh as in the embodiments described above. The upper wall 508 preferably extends above the surface 124 of the body of fluid 104.

[0051] The pump enclosure 536 includes at least one opening in the side wall 500, in the form of a plurality of macerators in the side wall 500. In the present embodiment, in which the upper wall 508 extends above the surface 124 of the body of fluid 104, the macerators 528 provide the only openings from within the body of fluid 104 into the chamber 538.

[0052] In the embodiments of Figures 3, 4 and 5, the installation of the pump enclosures 336, 436 and 536 can be performed by, for example, floating the pump enclosure to the planned location of operation of the pump support 120 in the body of fluid, and then sinking the pump enclosures into the body of fluid to the desired depth and anchoring the pump enclosures. The pump support 120 can then be floated over the pump enclosures. In other embodiments, the pump enclosures and the pump support can be floated out to the desired position within the body of fluid 104 together (with the pump support 120 already surrounded by the pump enclosure). The pump enclosure can then be sunk and anchored. Following placement of the pump enclosure and the pump support 120, the pumps 128 can be deployed from the pump support 120 into the chamber 338, 438 or 538.

[0053] Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, a further pump enclosure 636 is illustrated. The pump enclosure 636 defines a chamber 638 that encloses at least a portion of a pump 128. More specifically, at least the portion of the pump 128 that bears the inlet 232 is enclosed within the chamber 638. The chamber 638 can be defined by a side wall 600 connected between a lower wall 604 and an upper wall 608. At least one of the walls 600, 604 and 608 includes at least one opening. For example, the side wall 600 can be made of a mesh or grating, and can therefore include a plurality of openings therein for material to enter the chamber 638 from the body of fluid 104. The side wall 600 is illustrated as being substantially cylindrical in shape in Figure 6A. In other embodiments, the side wall 600 can have other shapes, including the shape of a rectangular prism.

[0054] The lower wall 604 and the upper wall 608 can be substantially disc-shaped walls, with the exception of a slot cut into each of the walls 604 and 608 to allow for the passage of a discharge hose 650 from the pump 128. The side wall 600 can also protrude inwardly to form a channel allowing the passage of the discharge hose 650. In other embodiments, the discharge hose 650 can rest on the upper wall 608 and travel along the outermost extent of the side wall 600 before returning to the pump support 120. In such embodiments, the walls 600, 604 and 608 can omit the above-mentioned slots and channels.

[0055] In some embodiments, the upper wall 608 can be sufficiently buoyant to support the pump enclosure 636, without the pump 128, at or near the surface 124 of the body of fluid 104. Thus, to install the pump 128 within the enclosure 636, the enclosure 636 can be floated adjacent to the pump support 120, and the pump 128 can be lowered into the upper wall 608. In some embodiments, the upper wall 608 can include a coupling mechanism for securing the pump 128 to the upper wall 608. Upon insertion of the pump 128, the pump 128 and the enclosure 636 together can be lowered from the pump support 120 via the line 132 to the desired depth within the body of fluid. The additional weight of the pump 128 can be greater than the buoyancy provided by the upper wall 608, thus allowing the assembled pump enclosure 636 and pump 128 to descend into the body of fluid 104.

[0056] In some embodiments (not shown), the pump enclosure 636 can also include one or more macerators mounted in the side wall 600. For example, in some embodiments four macerators can be mounted in the side wall 600 adjacent to the lower wall 604.

[0057] Variations to the above embodiments are contemplated. For example, the pump 128 can include a cage or strainer at the inlet 232 in any of the above embodiments, to prevent any debris that reaches the interior of the pump enclosures from entering the inlet 232 and damaging or interrupting the operation of the pump 128.

[0058] In additional embodiments, the alternative configurations are contemplated for the macerators 228 and 428, as well as the macerators mentioned in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B. As discussed above, each macerator has a flow path (from inlet, to grinding or cutting elements, to outlet) that travels from the exterior of the pump enclosures to the interior of the pump enclosures (the chambers 238, 438, 638). In other embodiments, each macerator can instead have a flow path that is substantially parallel to the side wall of the pump enclosure. That is, the macerator can be mounted outside the side wall of the pump enclosure, and both ingest debris and discharge cut or ground debris outside the side wall. Such macerators can also be movably connected to the exterior of the pump enclosures. For example, referring to Figure 4, one or more of the macerators 428 can be mounted on a track on the ring 416 and can travel on the track around the exterior of the side wall 400 to clear accumulated debris.

[0059] In further embodiments, the pump enclosures can include additional pumping devices adjacent to the inlets of the macerators. For example, an eductor can be placed near the inlet of each macerator to increase the flow of material (e.g. MFT) into the macerator.

[0060] Various advantages to the embodiments described herein will now be apparent. For example, by reducing or preventing the entry of debris to within at least a threshold distance of the pump inlet, the enclosures described above not only reduce the likelihood of suction blockage and/or damage to the pump, but also restrain any debris in the body of fluid at a sufficient distance from the pump inlet that the likelihood of the debris impinging against the outside of the enclosure and clogging one or more openings in the enclosure is reduced. In addition, in embodiments that include macerators, debris that may otherwise impede the operation of pumps is not only prevented from impeding the operation of the pumps, but can also be reduced in size sufficiently to be removed from the body of fluid 104 by the pumps.

[0061] In the foregoing description of certain embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes other technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "left" and right", "front" and "rear", "above"
and "below" and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[0062] In this specification, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open"
sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[0063] In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of the invention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

[0064] Furthermore, invention(s) have described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention(s). Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.

Claims (17)

We claim:

1. A pump enclosure comprising:
at least one wall defining a chamber for enclosing a pump;
at least one opening in the wall permitting passage of a material to be pumped;
at least a portion of the wall being at a distance greater than a threshold from an inlet of the pump.

2. The pump enclosure of claim 1, wherein the threshold is a diameter of an inlet strainer connected to the pump.

3. The pump enclosure of claim 2, wherein the threshold is a fraction or multiple of the pump inlet strainer diameter.

4. The pump enclosure of any one of claims 1 to 3, the at least one wall including a side wall having first and second ends, and a lower wall connected to the second end of the side wall.

5. The pump enclosure of claim 4, wherein the side wall is substantially cylindrical.

6. The pump enclosure of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings defined through side wall.

7. The pump enclosure of claim 6, the side wall including a plurality of rods connected to the lower wall, the plurality of openings defined between adjacent ones of the rods.

8. The pump enclosure of any one of claims 4 to 7, the at least one wall further comprising an upper wall connected to the first end of the side wall.

9. The pump enclosure of claim 8, the upper wall including an opening therein for receiving the pump.

10. The pump enclosure of any one of claims 4 to 9, further comprising at least one macerator.

11. The pump enclosure of claim 10, the at least one macerator mounted in an opening in the side wall; the macerator having an inlet for receiving material from the exterior of the chamber, and an outlet for discharging the material into the chamber.

12. The pump enclosure of claim 10, the at least one macerator mounted adjacent to the side wall; the macerator having an inlet for receiving material from the exterior of the chamber, and an outlet for discharging the material to the exterior of the chamber.

13. The pump enclosure of claim 12, the at least one macerator mounted moveably adjacent to the side wall.

14. The pump enclosure of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the side wall and the lower wall are impermeable.

15. The pump enclosure of any one of claims 9 to 14, the opening in the upper wall configured to receive a plurality of pumps.

16. The pump enclosure of claim 15, the opening in the upper wall configured to surround a barge supporting the plurality of pumps.

17. The pump enclosure of any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the upper wall is buoyant.