High Rate Thickeners

Combining legacy and innovation

Last updated Aug 2026

High Rate Thickeners are the result of continuous product development and world-class innovations, enabling guaranteed process performance and reliability. The portfolio consists of two products: HRT and HRT-S.

Maximize efficiency with lower costs, higher density, clearer overflow, and reliable operation.

Maximize water recovery

The design enables more effective solids settling, producing a denser underflow which can improve downstream processing and water recovery

Metso Plus

Reduce operating costs

Metso's patented Reactorwell™ technology improves feed preparation and flocculation efficiency, helping reduce operating costs over the life of the thickener

Improve overflow water quality

Reactorwell™ technology provides efficient mixing and solids retention, resulting in clearer overflow water

Increase reliability & efficiency

The combination of Reactorwell™ technology and Metso's automation offering helps control and optimize key process variables, delivering more reliable performance and easier operation

HRT

The Metso HRT technology is based on experience stretching over more than 35 years. Metso has delivered over 2000 units in more than 80 countries.

Industry leading innovator with patented Reactorwell technology enabling low lifecycle cost, higher underflow density, improved overflow clarity and overall better thickener operability
Complementary automation offering to improve thickener performance by controlling and optimizing the key variables

HRT-S

HRT-S is a robust pre-engineered high rate thickening solution that is delivered efficiently, is easy to operate and service.

Modular and ready to sell with a defined set of features and selected options to choose from
Pre-engineered designs
Consistently enables accelerated project deliveries
Pre-determined transport volumes and packing plans
Optimized design and sizing based on customer specific requirements
Belongs to the Metso Plus portfolio:
- Savings in power consumption
- Reduction in embedded carbon
- Decreased maintenance costs
- Efficient flocculation and inventory control through Reactorwell™ technology

Operation

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Mineral concentrates
Tailings
Counter Current Decantation circuits (CCD)
Pre and post-leaching duties
Mineral sands slimes
Metal precipitates

REACTORWELL™ TECHNOLOGY

Both High Rate Thickeners (HRT & HRT-S) come with Reactorwell™ technology. Reactorwell™ is a new generation feedwell with high solids retention and mixing efficiency that eliminates feed short-circuiting. Reactorwell™ offers low shear for ideal floccule growth, even discharge symmetry as well as excellent feed preparation.

DIRECTIONAL AUTODIL™ FEED DILUTION SYSTEM

To decrease the level of feed solids prior to flocculation, we have developed a patented directional autodilution system that harnesses the natural head difference across the feedwell wall. This drives supernatant liquor into the feedwell, where slurry dilution, mixing, and flocculation take place. Autodilution ensures the density in the feedwell is within the optimum range for flocculation, irrespective of feed flow rate or density.

TURBODIL™ FEED DILUTION SYSTEM

We have developed the patented Turbodil™ feed dilution system to provide an effective forced dilution scheme for alternative process requirements. The system uses a low head axial pump to drive dilution water into the feedwell.

TURBODIL™ CAN HELP MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS WHEN:

The process requires further dilution of already low feed concentrations
High volumes of feed dilution flow are required to bring the incoming feed to the required density
Large variations in feed conditions are anticipated
Low slurry specific gravity differential exists between the feed slurry and the overflow liquor due to the particles in the slurry having a low specific gravity