C&B Equipment’s Complete Guide to Industrial Trash Pumps

There are different types of pumps for pumping water, thick liquids, and liquids that contain debris like sand, leaves, and unknown materials. You don’t want to pick the wrong pump for the job because it won’t be efficient, and it could damage the pump.

Trash pumps are a specific type of pump used to transfer large volumes of liquid filled with sludge, dirt, and other debris. Industrial trash pumps are like the cannons of the pump universe.

While some pumps grind up the material that passes through them, a trash pump simply uses a heavy-duty motor and pump to drive the material out the other end intact. These pumps deliver maximum discharge flow and pressure, with a large inlet and robust power to pull in debris.

Why People Use Industrial Trash Pumps

There are several reasons businesses choose industrial trash pumps over different types of pumps. The main one is that they can transfer debris in addition to liquids. Also, these pumps are adjustable, so they can operate according to your desired speed. Finally, many of them don’t require priming and can run dry. Some of the biggest applications for these pumps include the following.

  • Municipal solid waste handling, such as effluent treatment, sump, municipal bypass pumping, slurries, and emergency backup pumps
  • Wood and paper applications, such as drainage sumps, coal pile runoff, white water service, black liquor sump, broke pits, clarifier scum, and paper machine floor sump
  • Steel factory applications, such as chrome plating slurries, oil washdown, glass, mill scale, plastic roll grinder coolant, and paint overspray
  • Mining applications, such as sand and gravel silt ponds, sand washing, mine dewatering, truck wash down, cutting oil transfer, and mill scale runoff. 
  • Chemical applications, such as coke slurries, sulfur froth, oil waste, detergent cakes, storm drains, refinery mud, and lead oxide slurry. 
  • Food processing applications, such as fish farming and all potato, poultry, beef, vegetables, pork, fat, fish, and blood applications
  • Any specialty applications, such as winery and orchard pumping

How Industrial Trash Pumps Work

Industrial trash pumps have large inlet and outlet openings and deeper running blades than other types of pumps. Instead of trying to “break up” material inside the pump, the device is only trying to get the material to “pass through” the pump so that it can handle larger pieces of debris than other types of pumps. Because of their robust power, these pumps can also move thousands of gallons of material per minute. 

An industrial trash pump works by creating a low-pressure area above the water level to suck the water into the pump where an impeller moves the liquid and solid matter to the outlet. This can happen quickly because trash pumps are simple but powerful devices that can run on electricity, gas, or diesel engines. 

Different Types of Industrial Trash Pumps

Even though industrial trash pumps are somewhat simple, there are still several types of them available. To the uninformed, one pump may look just like the other, but each trash pump will likely have slightly different capabilities and rely on different power sources. Some of the different types of trash pumps include the following.

1. Semi-Trash Pump

Semi-trash pumps are generally used to pump only slightly sandy or muddy water, so they can handle “semi-small debris.” Specifically, this type of pump can move debris that is up to about ⅝ of an inch in diameter. 

2. Traditional Trash Pumps

Traditional trash pumps are made to handle larger debris, such as twigs, leaves, and pebbles. They have a larger impeller that allows these items to pass through the pump to the outlet. 

3. Diaphragm Pumps

A diaphragm trash pump is unique in that it uses a diaphragm to produce a vacuum effect that sucks in the water and debris. Then, the diaphragm is pushed in the other direction, sending the material out of the pump on the other end. This type of pump is commonly used for highly abrasive materials like sludge. 

4. PTO Trash Pumps

PTO trash pumps are a favorite among those in the agricultural industry because they can be attached to the power take-off driveshaft of a tractor and are powered by the tractor’s engine. The pumps are fast to attach and prime, and they are very low-maintenance because they aren’t run by their own engine. 

5. Industrial Trailer-Mounted Trash Pumps

Industrial trailer-mounted trash pumps are one of the largest types of trash pumps. They have huge inlets and can pump as much as 2,500 or more gallons per minute (GPM). 

How to Choose the Right Industrial Trash Pump

The best trash pump for your needs is going to depend on your project and the materials involved. As you can see, industrial trash pumps come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Evaluate whether the material you will be pumping is going to contain small or large debris and how much of it you plan to pump per hour.

Also, consider your mobility and power options. Do you need to be able to move the pump from site to site easily? Will you have access to A/C power, or should you choose a pump that runs on gas or diesel fuel? The answers to these questions can help guide your choices. 

Talk to C&B Equipment for Your Next Industrial Pump!

C&B Equipment is one of the largest industrial equipment distributors in the Kansas City area. We sell and service a wide variety of equipment, including industrial pumps. We know that any downtime your business experiences will have a negative impact, so we also offer various emergency services and preventative maintenance programs.

Our company has decades of experience working with and installing industrial pumps. Our goals are to make sure you have the right pump for your needs and get the maximum use out of your equipment. We serve clients throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and the Texas Panhandle. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services!


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