Top 8 Slurry Pump Considerations
The following is a list of 8 considerations for choosing a slurry pump best suited for a slurry application. Selecting a pump for a slurry application is more difficult than for an application involving thinner fluids. If a mistake is made in the pump selection process, the pump chosen will most likely not work well, or will not pump the higher viscosity, abrasive, heavy, solid laden fluid at all, which renders the new pump useless!
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- Know the Material or Fluid Being Pumped
The fluid or material type and its characteristics are among the most important considerations. Is it a slurry, mud, sand, etc.
- Fluid viscosity of the material, usually measured in centipoise (CPS).
- Density of fluid, usually measured as specific gravity (Sg)
- The pH level, which is the measure of hydrogen-ion concentration.
- Static and operating temperature of the fluid.
- Pump Flow Rate
- Flow rate is another important factor for selecting the best-suited pump for a slurry application. The pump must be capable of exceeding the required flow rate to ensure desired flow rates are achievable (example of flow rate: 350 GPM or 200 cu. yards per hour {cu-yd/h}).
- The flow rate of the pump must not only achieve the required flow rate of the application, but it must also be more than something called the critical flow rate. The critical flow rate is the constant flow rate required to maintain the suspended particles and solids in the slurry. Maintaining suspension of particles and solids helps to avoid the heavy portion of the fluid from settling at the bottom of the wetted path, as well as from settling at the bottom of the discharge piping.
- Flow velocity is a critical consideration; the material must move at a consistent velocity through the piping to keep the slurry, particles, and solid-laden material suspended so it does not settle and cause clogging.
- Materials of Construction
The materials that the pump is made of are necessary because the pump must be chemically compatible with the fluid being pumped. If the pump&#;s materials of construction and the liquid are not consistent, it can cause the pump to either melt down or crack, resulting in catastrophic failure of the pump, and can also cause damage to the immediate area surrounding the application and cause injury to workers.
The pump must also handle the abrasive characteristics of the fluid being pumped. If not, abrasive fluids can scour through the pump casing and cause premature wear of the internal pump components such as the rotor or impeller.
- Inlet & Discharge Pipe Considerations
Pipe length, diameter, and the type of material of the piping are essential factors that are often not strongly considered when constructing a pumping system.
- Pipe length is essential because the more significant the size of the pipe, the more fluid or material build-up will occur, requiring a more substantial amount of motor power to enable the pump to continue pushing the fluid or material to its final destination.
- Pipe diameter should be sized considering two factors, reducing discharge head pressure and maintaining sufficient fluid or material velocity to avoid clogging of the discharge pipe. Regarding both reducing discharge head and maintaining adequate fluid velocity, the rule of thumb is to go more extensive on the pipe diameter, which will help to alleviate the adverse effects of both factors.
- Pipe material should not only be chemically compatible with the fluid or material being pumped, but when selecting piping that has a reduced surface finish at the inside of the piping, it can also minimize pipe friction loss which can result in less energy required to pump the fluid or material to its final destination. The surface finish measure is denoted as Ra, which stands for Roughness Average.
- Motor Power
Motor power, usually indicated by horsepower (HP), is important on any pump but wildly when pumping slurries and fluids with high specific gravity and viscosity because thicker, heavier fluids require a more significant amount of power and force to move the fluid or material to the desired final location.
The motor power must also be sufficient enough to overcome any forces within the discharge piping downstream of the pump. These forces within the discharge piping could be a result of pipe components such as tees, bends, and upward grades that create something that is referred to as discharge head pressure which is measured in PSIG.
- Pump Operating Cost
Another important consideration that most pump user does not think about is the cost and economic impact of the pump. Having the best-suited pump for an application also includes how much money it requires to keep that pump running for whatever duration it is in service. It not only has the energy the motor uses but also involves selecting a pump that can move viscous material with low amounts of water or accompanying fluids.
Water and accompanying fluids used to make pumping viscous solid laden material possible can cost a lot of money. If these fluids can be reduced, it can save thousands of dollars on operating expenses.
- Pump Elevation
The pump must be located in a manner that does not hinder its operation of the pump. In applications where the pump is positioned above the fluid to be pumped, the pump cannot be located higher than the pump&#;s ability to draw the liquid into the pump intake. If the pump is positioned at an elevation that is greater than the pump&#;s ability to remove the fluid into the pump, the result will be that the pump will not achieve prime, and the desired flow rate will not be reached, or even worse, the pump will not pump the fluid at all.
- Pump Orientation
One last point to mention is pumped orientation. Pumps can be purchased with several different orientation options. The most common are vertical and horizontal, which refers to pump shaft orientation. Depending on the specific application, vertical and horizontal pump orientations can be the better choice. Horizontal orientation is the most purchased orientation, but vertical orientation can be better suited when a pump is used in a smaller space.
Centrifugal Pumps for Slurry
Slurry is one of the most challenging fluids to move. It's highly abrasive, thick, sometimes corrosive, and contains a high concentration of solids. No doubt about it, slurry is tough on pumps. But selecting the right centrifugal pump for these abrasive applications can make all the difference in the long-term performance.
WHAT IS A "SLURRY"?
Slurry is any mixture of fluid and fine solid particles. Examples of slurries would include: manure, cement, starch, or coal suspended in water. Slurries are used as a convenient way to handle solids in mining, steel processing, foundries, power generation, and most recently, the Frac Sand mining industry.
Slurries generally behave the same way as thick, viscous fluids, flowing under gravity, but also pumped as needed. Slurries are divided into two general categories: non-settling or settling.
Non-settling slurries consist of very fine particles, which give the illusion of increased apparent viscosity. These slurries usually have low wearing properties, but do require very careful consideration when selecting the right pump because they do not behave in the same manner as a normal liquid does.
Settling slurries are formed by coarse particles that tend to form an unstable mixture. Particular attention should be given to flow and power calculations when selecting a pump. The majority of slurry applications are made up of coarse particles and because of this, have higher wear properties.
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Below are common characteristics of slurries:
- Abrasive
- Thick consistency
- Can contain a high amount of solids
- Usually settle quickly
- Require more power to operate than a &#;water&#; pump
SLURRY PUMP SELECTION
Many types of pumps are used for pumping slurries, but the most common slurry pump is the centrifugal pump. The centrifugal slurry pump uses the centrifugal force generated by a rotating impeller to impact kinetic energy to the slurry, similar to how a water-like liquid would move through a standard centrifugal pump.
Slurry applications greatly reduce the expected wear life of pumping components. It&#;s critical that pumps designed for these heavy-duty applications are selected from the start. Consider the following when making selections:
BASIC PUMP COMPONENTS
To ensure the pump will hold up against abrasive wear, the impeller size/design, material of construction, and discharge configurations must be properly selected.
Open impellers are the most common on slurry pumps because they&#;re the least likely to clog. Closed impellers on the other hand are the most likely to clog and the most difficult to clean if they clog.
Slurry impellers are large and thick. This helps them operate longer in harsh slurry mixtures.
SLURRY PUMP CONSTRUCTION
Slurry pumps are generally larger in size when compared to low-viscosity liquid pumps and usually require more horsepower to operate because they're less efficient. Bearings and shafts must be more rugged and rigid as well.
To protect the pump&#;s casing from abrasion, slurry pumps are oftentimes lined with metal or rubber. Goulds Pumps, for example, lines their XHD (Extra Heavy Duty) slurry pump with rubber.
Metal casings are composed of hard alloys. These casings are built to withstand the erosion caused by increased pressure and circulation.
The casings are selected to suit the needs of the application. For instance, pumps used in cement production handle fine particles at low pressures. Therefore, a light construction casing is acceptable. If the pump is handling rocks, the pump casing and impeller will need a thicker and stronger casing.
SLURRY PUMPING CONSIDERATIONS
Those with experience pumping slurries know it's not an easy task. Slurries are heavy and difficult to pump. They cause excessive wear on pumps, their components, and are known to clog suction and discharge lines if not moving fast enough.
It&#;s a challenge to make slurry centrifugal pumps last for a reasonable amount of time. But, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your slurry pump and make pumping slurry less of a challenge.
- Find the sweet spot that allows the pump to run as slow as possible (to reduce wear), but fast enough to keep solids from settling and clogging the lines
- To reduce wear, lower the pump&#;s discharge pressure to the lowest point possible
- Follow proper piping principles to ensure a constant and uniform delivery of the slurry to the pump
Pumping slurries poses several challenges and problems, but with proper engineering and equipment selection, you can experience many years of worry-free operation. It's important to work with a qualified engineer when selecting a slurry pump because slurries can wreak havoc on a pump if not properly selected.
Check out the Must-Have Handbook for Centrifugal Pumps for more information on centrifugal pumps, including details about pumps specifically designed for slurry applications!
Expert Centrifugal Pump Insights from Crane Engineering
Engineers and experts rely on Crane Engineering for insight and help with centrifugal pumps to pump slurry. Our in-house team of engineers can answer questions related to not only pumps but valves and skid systems. We provide a complete service and repair team who will fix pumps back to OEM standards. We are ready to assist you, contact us, today if you're in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Crane Engineering also builds and designs customized skid systems nationwide.
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