Slurry Pump House

Kuna provided comprehensive mechanical and electrical engineering services for the scoping, feasibility, detailed design, and construction support for the upgrade and relocation of a critical tailings transfer pump house. The pump house receives various slurry solutions via gravity flow from the mill process, and it needed to reliably transport these solutions to the tailings storage facility.

Kuna collaborated with the mine’s engineering and operations teams to accurately calculate water handling requirements through different process operations and account for seasonal fluctuations. At the start of the project, no process flow diagram existed for this part of the system, requiring Kuna to develop process definitions and apply fundamental engineering principles to ensure the final solution met operational and reliability needs.

From a mechanical engineering standpoint, the design included a new pump house along with gravity inlet pipelines, discharge pipelines, and pump installations. Special attention was given to system reliability, with the design using corrosion-resistant materials to handle low pH slurry solutions. The pump, valve, and piping systems were engineered for long-term durability in these harsh conditions.

In parallel, electrical engineering efforts focused on designing the power distribution and instrumentation controls necessary for system operation. This included the installation of a new electrical substation and backup power generation to maintain continuous operations, especially given the critical nature of the system. Modular construction was a key feature in the design of the electrical buildings, which allowed for efficient transportation to the remote site and ease of installation. Kuna also participated in functional acceptance testing prior to module delivery.

Kuna’s involvement extended into material procurement and equipment evaluation, including key mechanical systems like pumps and electrical systems such as power distribution controls. Additionally, Kuna led constructability reviews and hazard analysis exercises, ensuring all components were onsite and ready, allowing the project to be completed despite pandemic limitations. The project was delivered within a few weeks of the original schedule and stayed within a few percent of the construction cost estimate.