Choosing A Slurry Pump - Tobee Pump

PUMPS are the backbone of the process industry. In a process plant, it is necessary to move material from one point to another. In keeping with the laws of thermodynamics, fluids move from an area of high pressure to low, and depending on the plant layout often require the assistance of a pump to achieve this. With many different pump types available, selecting the right pump can be tricky, especially when slurries are involved.

This article will discuss some of the variables to consider when characterising a slurry and selecting a suitable pump for transporting those slurries in a plant. This is not definitive and is by no means a complete review of handling slurries by pumping but is meant to provide some useful information and a good starting point of what to consider.

Summary

Pumping of slurries can often lead to blockages or equipment failure. The job of the designer is to assess all the factors of each situation, including client and existing site preferences to design a system and select a slurry pump which is robust enough to minimise blockages and makes maintenance for operators as easy as capital would permit whilst providing a safe system of work.

Slurry type

What is a slurry? Typically, the term slurry is used to refer to a mixture of a liquid and a solid or combination of solids. The liquid is often referred to as the carrier fluid and in most cases is water, although it can be anything from an acid solution (eg nitric acid) to a hydrocarbon (eg diesel).

Producing a slurry or maintaining solid suspension in static conditions is outside the scope of this article.

Slurries can broadly be broken down into two types: settling, and non-settling slurries. This characterisation is based on the nature of the solid(s). Non-settling slurries contain solids made up of fine particles, which largely remain in suspension when the applied mixing energy ceases. Settling slurries, as the name suggests, contain solids whose particles settle out when the applied mixing energy ceases. From a designer’s perspective, it is important to know the type of slurry. For example, non-settling slurries can be transported around under laminar flow conditions, whereas turbulent flow conditions are required for settling slurries, particularly in horizontal sections.

A useful rule of thumb provided in Sinnot and Towler’s Chemical Engineering Design states that solids with particles of less than 200 microns (0.2 mm) will usually be expected to produce non-settling slurries. Larger particle sizes will produce settling slurries.1

Before selecting the right slurry pump, the first step is to determine the pressure drop requirements using the system characteristics. The parameters required are:

The following equations² are useful in determining the slurry’s density:

For settling slurries, the velocity in the pipework is the key design criteria.

Figure 1: The relationship between the pressure drop and the slurry’s velocity compared to a pure liquid in horizontal pipework

Figure 1, an extract from Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, depicts the relationship between the pressure drop and the slurry’s velocity compared to a pure liquid in horizontal pipework. The important point to note is that the horizontal pipe velocity should be above the point labelled V_m2 (minimum transport velocity). This is the point at which the solids are fully suspended. This is determined using the Durand equation³.

 

where:

Once the minimum transport velocity is calculated, it is common to add a safety factor, but care is needed. If the velocity is too high, the required pressure drop and the subsequent work required by the slurry pump can increase significantly. For vertical flow, a good starting velocity can be taken as twice the solid’s settling velocity. The main aim is to stop the solids from dropping out. Velocities in the range of 1-3 m/s is a useful rule of thumb.³

The pressure drop for settling slurries can now be determined at the calculated velocity assuming pseudo-homogeneous behaviour, using the slurry’s density and the carrier fluid’s viscosity in established pressure drop calculation and applying a correction factor. A correction factor of 25% is suggested in Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook³.

Note that the above is for solids heavier than the carrier fluid. Depending on the solid particle size, at particular concentrations the particles begin to interact with each other and can start to affect the slurry’s viscosity. This is discussed further with calculations provided in the Processing of Solid-Liquid Suspensions, Chapter 11². Appendix 3, Warman Slurry Pumping Handbook⁴, also has useful calculations and correlations for water-based slurries.

Figure 2: Durand factor for minimum suspension velocity (from Govier and Aziz, the flow of complex mixtures in pipes, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1972)

For non-settling slurries, the resultant slurry typically displays non-Newtonian behaviour, and its rheology and behaviour must be determined empirically to ascertain the work required by the slurry pump. The pressure drop for these can then be calculated using established pressure drop calculations depending on the slurry viscosity and density calculated.

Other things to consider before moving onto slurry pump selection are:

• slip conditions – when the solid and carrier velocities differ significantly;

• pipe size – ensure the pipe ID is considerably bigger than maximum particle size (6-10x is recommended2);

• piping design (using recirculation loops to ensure the slurry is constantly moving; using falls, so the slurry drains to a safe point; using long radius bends; installing rodding or flushing points; minimising bends; minimising dead legs; minimising suction pipework);

• static head requirements; and

• available NPSH.

The solid particle will play a crucial part in selecting the material of the wetted parts. The following, amongst other things, should be considered:

• are the solids hard or soft? ie are they abrasive?

• will pumping the slurry cause erosion?

• are the solids corrosive? This applies to the carrier fluid.

Pump types

As with many pump duties, both rotary and positive-displacement pumps can be utilised. The following are some of the aspects to consider when selecting the type of pump for your slurry. However, always check with specialist pump suppliers before making a final decision.

Centrifugal pumps

The most common pumps generally in use are centrifugal pumps. When specifying this type of pump, as a minimum, the following must be considered:

• Impeller type – A recessed impeller type can be used, the design minimises contact between the particles and the impeller thereby minimising wear on the impeller whilst being gentle on the particles. Open impeller types can be used, as they are generally easier to clean and maintain. Closed impellers are often regarded as having the best efficiency but can be difficult to clean. The thickness should have suitable wear allowance. You should also consider any impact caused by the required impeller speed.

• Casing type – Metal casings can be used. These may be lined with rubber for added protection or as a sacrificialwear part. Split casings can also be considered, but these can be expensive. The thickness should have suitable wear allowance.

• Clearances – Slurry centrifugal pumps should have larger clearances than pure liquid pumps, to allow solids to pass through but also to reduce the velocity within the slurry pump, thereby minimising wear.

These are just some of the things to consider when selecting a centrifugal pump for a slurry duty. In direct liaison with a pump vendor, the designer must choose the best options for their system. They should also consider any impact on the shaft and seals, and ensure there will be no issues with cavitation.

Centrifugal pumps are differential head devices and therefore, the head generated is based on properties of the fluid.

Figure 3: Example operating curve and efficiency curve for a mixture of solids and water only

Often, the operating curve and efficiency curve provided by pump vendors are that of water, so a way of translating those figures is often needed. An example is shown in Figure 34. It also includes a ratio for the driver efficiency which would also assist in confirming the pump motor.

Note that the curve is only for slurries whose carrier fluid is water. Moreover, it is for Warman pumps. For similar correlations and fluids other than water, speak to your pump vendor.

Conclusion

Selecting a suitable pump for a slurry application can be a tricky business. There are many variables to consider, some of which have been mentioned in this article. The overriding message though is to ensure that the solids remain in suspension and to minimise wear and blockages. The above is provided for discussion and general guidance purposes only. For specific cases, you should gather as much information as possible on the carrier fluid and solids, and discuss options with a relevant pump vendor.

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