What it is:
Tailings pipelines transport thick, abrasive slurry from processing plants to containment areas for storage or dewatering.
Challenges:
High solids and long-distance pumping create severe wear and high energy demands. Any breakdown leads to costly production interruptions.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s robust slurry pumps with large internal clearances and wear-resistant materials deliver continuous, efficient tailings transport with reduced maintenance and lower lifecycle costs.
Barge unloading in municipal wastewater operations typically involves transferring sludge, grit, or biosolids from transport barges to treatment or storage facilities. The process requires high-capacity pumping systems that can handle thick, abrasive, or viscous material efficiently.
Challenges:
Barge contents often settle during transport, creating dense, compacted sludge that’s difficult to mobilize. Standard pumps experience suction loss, clogging, and wear when handling high solids or abrasive material. Setup flexibility and mobility are also critical in temporary or remote unloading sites.
=Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s submersible dredge and slurry pumps excel in barge unloading. Their agitator systems re-suspend solids for complete barge evacuation, while wear-resistant materials withstand abrasive conditions. Compact and portable, they can be quickly deployed and moved between sites — providing reliable, high-throughput pumping for municipal sludge and solids transfer operations.
Grit chambers are designed to remove sand, gravel, and other heavy inorganic particles from raw wastewater before it enters treatment processes. This step protects downstream equipment — such as pumps, clarifiers, and digesters — from abrasion and mechanical damage caused by suspended solids.
Challenges:
Grit is extremely abrasive and settles quickly, forming dense layers at the bottom of chambers and sumps. Standard pumps often suffer from rapid impeller wear, seal failure, and suction loss due to sediment accumulation. Periodic manual cleanouts are time-consuming, hazardous, and disruptive to operations.
Hevvy/Toyo Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s agitator-equipped submersible pumps are ideal for grit removal and chamber cleanouts. The agitator re-suspends settled solids, allowing complete sump evacuation without manual intervention. High-chrome or rubber-lined wet ends resist abrasion, while recessed impellers minimize wear — delivering long-lasting, low-maintenance performance in abrasive wastewater environments.
Wood chip tunnels are used to convey chips from storage piles to the pulping area using conveyor systems. During rain or snowmelt, water collects in tunnel sumps, carrying fine wood particles, bark, and debris that must be pumped out to prevent flooding and maintain safe operation.
Challenges:
Tunnel sumps accumulate fibrous, stringy material that entangles impellers and reduces flow. The mixture of organic solids and debris makes clogging common, while restricted access in tunnels complicates maintenance. Pumps must handle large solids, operate reliably in confined spaces, and resist wear from wood fiber abrasion.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s agitator-equipped submersible pumps are ideal for fibrous, debris-laden tunnel sumps. Their open impeller and large-passage designs allow wood chips and fibers to pass without clogging. With durable construction, simple servicing, and continuous-duty performance, they keep tunnels clear, safe, and free of overflow even in heavy runoff conditions.
Bark ash and boiler ash are waste products from burning wood waste and black liquor in mill boilers. The resulting ash slurry — a mix of fine solids, water, and chemicals — must be collected, transported, or dewatered to maintain boiler efficiency and meet environmental compliance.
Challenges:
Ash slurries are highly abrasive and sometimes caustic, quickly wearing out impellers, casings, and liners. Solids tend to settle in sumps and piping, causing frequent clogs and requiring manual cleaning. Standard dewatering and transfer pumps often fail prematurely under these abrasive conditions.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo submersible slurry pumps are built to handle abrasive ash slurries with minimal wear. Their high-chrome construction, heavy-duty bearings, and agitator systems keep solids suspended and prevent buildup. These pumps deliver superior reliability, reduced downtime, and longer component life in ash handling applications across pulp and paper facilities.
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) production involves processing titanium-bearing ores through sulfate or chloride methods to produce a white pigment used in coatings, plastics, and paper. The process generates highly abrasive and corrosive slurries containing metal oxides, acids, and fine solids that must be pumped between reaction, filtration, and recovery stages.
Challenges:
TiO₂ slurries are extremely dense and abrasive, causing rapid wear on impellers, casings, and seals. The combination of solids and aggressive chemical content accelerates corrosion, while temperature and viscosity fluctuations make flow control difficult. Downtime for maintenance can severely disrupt continuous production lines.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo pumps are built for the harsh dual demands of abrasion and corrosion. With high-chrome or elastomer-lined wet ends, recessed impellers, and optional stainless or alloy materials, they resist both wear and chemical attack. Their agitator technology prevents solids settling in tanks and pipelines, ensuring smooth, consistent slurry handling throughout TiO₂ production.
Froth sumps collect and handle aerated bitumen froth that separates during oil sands extraction. The mixture contains bitumen, water, air, and fine solids — a challenging fluid that is both abrasive and highly variable in consistency.
Challenges:
Froth slurries cause conventional pumps to lose prime due to entrained air and fluctuating density. The combination of abrasiveness and gas content leads to cavitation, vibration, and reduced efficiency. Maintaining continuous operation in froth-handling systems is a major reliability challenge.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s recessed impeller and tank-style pump designs are ideal for froth applications. Their large, open passages reduce air binding and allow smooth handling of aerated slurries. Optional rubber or high-chrome linings extend wear life, while the ability to operate in partially flooded or fluctuating conditions ensures continuous, stable performance in froth sumps.
Wet scrubbers remove particulates and gases from steel plant exhaust systems by washing them with water or chemical solutions. The collected slurry, containing dust, metal oxides, and chemical residues, settles in sumps or collection tanks that must be regularly emptied to maintain scrubber performance.
Challenges:
Scrubber slurries are abrasive, corrosive, and often have high solids concentrations that lead to rapid erosion of impellers and volutes. Chemical additives can attack seals and metallic components, while variable slurry densities challenge consistent pumping.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s corrosion- and abrasion-resistant pumps handle aggressive scrubber slurry with ease. Available in high-chrome, stainless steel, or elastomer-lined configurations, they resist both chemical and mechanical attack. Their recessed impeller and agitator systems ensure consistent flow and minimal downtime, making them ideal for continuous scrubber sump operation.
Mill scale pits collect steel flakes, cooling water, and oil residues generated during hot rolling and descaling processes. These pits act as settling basins that separate heavy mill scale particles from process water before recirculation or disposal.
Challenges:
Mill scale is extremely abrasive, dense, and prone to settling, creating heavy sludge that is difficult to pump. Standard centrifugal pumps often fail due to clogging, excessive wear, or seal breakdown caused by the mixture of metallic solids, oils, and water. Maintenance and downtime in scale pits can disrupt production lines and increase operational costs.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo agitator pumps are engineered specifically for heavy, abrasive sludge applications like mill scale. Their robust wet-end design, high-chrome construction, and built-in agitators prevent settling and keep the slurry moving. By maintaining solids in suspension and minimizing wear, they deliver consistent pit cleaning and reliable long-term performance.
Tunnel and conveyor sumps collect water and slurry runoff from coal conveyors, tunnels, and transfer points in power plants. These sumps prevent flooding, protect equipment, and ensure safe, dry work areas throughout material handling systems.
Challenges:
These sumps often accumulate fine coal dust, debris, and abrasive slurry that settles quickly and clogs pumps. Limited access for cleaning and maintenance, combined with continuous operation, demands pumps that can handle solids-laden water reliably and with minimal attention.
Solution:
Hevvy/Toyo’s agitator-equipped submersible pumps are purpose-built for dirty sump applications. Their powerful mixing action keeps solids suspended, ensuring complete sump drainage and preventing buildup. Heavy-duty construction and simple, modular design make them easy to maintain, reducing downtime and keeping conveyor systems safe and operational.