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Your Position: Home - Pumps - A Beginner's Guide To Pumping Slurry

A Beginner's Guide To Pumping Slurry

Author: Evelyn y

May. 06, 2024

A Beginner's Guide To Pumping Slurry

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.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Heavy Duty Slurry Pump.

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.

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. 

Let us know how we can help you, request a quote today!

How Does a Slurry Pump Work? – All You Need To Know

How Does a Slurry Pump Work? – All You Need To Know

Are you looking for a reliable, efficient pump to transport dirt and other solids? Slurry pumps may be just the solution! With their ability to move large amounts of abrasive material at high speeds, slurry pumps can often outperform traditional pump systems. But how exactly do they work? In this article, we’ll explore the inner workings of slurry pumps so that you have all the tools necessary to make an informed decision. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

However, Before diving in first, let’s know what a slurry pump is,

Are you interested in learning more about Lined Slurry Pump? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

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What Is a Slurry Pump?

A slurry pump is a type of centrifugal pump designed to move Suspended solids, such as particles of sand and gravel, through a liquid medium. The design of the pump allows it to increase pressure so that the slurry can be moved large distances or up vertical inclines. Slurry pumps are typically used in dredging, mining and mineral processing applications. Additionally, they are commonly used in wastewater treatment operations.

Essential Components of a Slurry Pump

The essential components of a slurry pump include the volute or casing, impeller, shaft, sealing mechanism, motor or engine, and base plate. The volute is a curved funnel that collects and directs the flow of the pumped material. This part is typically made of hard-wearing materials such as chrome alloy steel to withstand the slurry’s high pressures and abrasive nature.

Impeller

The impeller is a rotating component that pushes the liquid forward and out of the volute. The component can be made from hard-wearing materials like chrome alloy steel or softer materials such as flexible rubber to help reduce wear and tear on the other pump parts.

Shaft

The shaft is a metal rod that connects the impeller to the motor or engine. This component is typically made of high-strength materials such as stainless steel to withstand the high stresses and torque generated by a powerful slurry pump.

Sealing Mechanism

The sealing mechanism prevents leakage of the pumped material around the impeller. It typically consists of a series of mechanical or hydraulic seals designed to move flexibly with the flow of the pumped material. This helps prevent damage and wear on the seals, which can be very costly to replace.

Motor

The motor or engine powering the slurry pump is typically located at the pump’s base. Depending on the application’s needs, it can be a traditional electric motor or an internal combustion engine.

Overall, a slurry pump is a highly specialized piece of equipment that uses a variety of components to effectively move and process large volumes of liquid, solids, and other materials.

Construction of Slurry Pump

A slurry pump is made up of different parts. It has an inlet volute that helps direct the liquid and particles into the impeller, which makes them move through a discharge pipe. A shaft seal and bearing housing stop fluid from leaking out, and a casing helps guide the flow of particles and liquids. The impeller uses centrifugal force to make it work.

How Does a Slurry Pump Work?

A slurry pump is a type of centrifugal pump that uses the kinetic energy of a rotating impeller to increase the pressure and flow rate of a fluid. The liquid enters the eye or inlet of the impeller and then accelerates as it passes through each stage. In doing so, it becomes increasingly pressurized and is forced out by centrifugal action at high velocity from the volute discharge outlet. This pressure forces solids particles suspended in the liquid to be drawn into and carried along with its flow stream, thus producing an efficient pumping action for abrasive slurries.

The Benefits Of Using a Slurry Pump

There are so many benefits to using a slurry pump. Some of the benefits of using a slurry pump include the following:

  • Increased efficiency and reliability in pumping thick liquids.

  • Reduced downtime due to fewer clogs and blockages.

  • Lower maintenance costs due to fewer parts that need replacing or repairing

  • Greater control over the flow rate of the liquid being pumped.

  • Enhanced safety as they are designed with built-in safeguards against pressure overloads.

Types Of Slurry Pumps

Slurry pumps move viscous, abrasive and high-density mixtures such as slurries in various industrial and mining applications. Depending on the application, there are several types of slurry pumps available.

Centrifugal Slurry Pumps

These Centrifugal slurry pumps rely on centrifugal force to move the slurry through the pump. The rotating impellers in these pumps create pressure that forces the mixture to move outwards and into the discharge pipe.

Diaphragm Slurry Pumps

These pumps use a diaphragm to separate the moving fluidly from the discharge pipe. This allows the slurry to be pumped without impacting the pump’s moving parts.

Other Slurry Pumps

Other slurry pumps use different mechanisms to move the slurry mixture through the pump and out to the discharge pipe. Whatever type of slurry pump you use, it is essential to understand how it works to maintain and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

To Sum Up

A slurry pump is a type of pump designed for pumping liquid containing solid particles. Slurry pumps are widely used in mining, metallurgy, coal washing, power plants, sewage water treatment, dredging, and chemical and petroleum industries. There are many different types of slurry pumps available on the market today. Contact us today if you need help selecting the right one for your needs. We’d be happy to assist you.

 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of slurry pump bearing assembly. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

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