Slurry transport is still as much a black art as it is a science. The analysis tools used by Solid Advantage Consultants combines the latest science with empirical knowledge both from work done by others and from Solid Advantage's experience. This presentation displays the analysis process and the breadth of tools used to analyze slurry gravity flow and pumping systems. Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you may have with the presentation or the methods used. arthur stack

1. INTRODUCTION

2. THE MINERAL EXTRACTION PROCESS
IS PREDOMINANTLY:
SOLIDS HYDRAULIC TRANSPORT
( SLURRY FLOW & PUMPING )

3. SLURRY PUMP & PIPELINE
OPTIMIZATION:
• REDUCES OPERATING COST
• REDUCES DOWNTIME
• REDUCES MAINTENANCE COST
•REDUCES LABOUR
MINIMIZES TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

4. SLURRY PUMP & PIPELINE
OPTIMIZATION ALSO:
• REDUCES ENERGY CONSUMPTION
• REDUCES MATERIAL CONSUMPTION
•REDUCES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ALLOWS FOR ENERGY REDUCTION REBATES
INCREASES PROFITS

5. SOLID ADVANTAGE BACKGROUND:
• GIW Slurry course 2002 & 2011
• 10 years independent research
• 23 years in operating mine
• work closely with consulting engineers and
pump manufacturers
• extensive design, construction, operation,
maintenance and troubleshooting experience
•environmental custodian

6. SLURRY TRANSPORT ANALYSIS

7. Carrier fluid
properties
database
Carrier fluid
properties
used in
analysis
CARRIER FLUID

8. Pipe properties
database
Pipe properties used
in analysis – pipe liner
thickness added here
HDPE pipe shown
PIPE PROPERTIES

9. Open channel roughness
Pipe roughness
used in analysis
Pipe roughness
PIPE ROUGHNESS
Channel
roughness used
in analysis

10. Minor losses are
based on Darby
3-K method
Crane L/D values are
used where Darby 3-K
factors are not available.
PIPE MINOR LOSSES
Total minor
losses used in
analysis

11. Plitt’s equation is used to
calculate particle size
distribution when gradation
data is not available
Particle size
distribution values
passed to analysis
SOLIDS GRADATION DETERMINATION

12. Fluid hydraulic
gradient chart
Solids particle and
carrier fluid input
Slurry hydraulic
gradient chart
Critical velocity analysis is based on
the average or any combination of
three well recognized methods
Modified Durand, Wilson & MTI
Holland
Hydraulic gradient analysis calculated
on clean pipe or combination of clean
pipe and bed if present.
SLURRY CRITICAL VELOCITY & FRICTION
Critical velocity analysis
considers horizontal,
sloped and vertical pipe
configurations.

13. Pump NPSHA
results
Pipeline length,
elevations, and
inlet and outlet
pressure inputs
Pipeline section head
gain or loss results
Power & energy results
Bed formation
calculation
results
Pumpbox vortex
creation level
check
PIPE ALIGNMENT & FLOW

14. Calculation result
summary for
individual pipeline
sections and entire
pipeline
Calculation results for
each pipe section
PIPELINE RESULTS

15. Graf-Acaroglu formula
used to calculate the
bottom slope to avoid
bed formation
Manning formula
used to calculate the
flow x-section area
and surface slope
OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

16. SLURRY REPORT

17. Energy & cost factors
Carrier fluid properties
Solids & slurry properties
Critical Velocity output & selection
FLUID & SLURRY PROPERTIES
Analysis details

18. K-Values per fitting type, fitting
quantity and total K-Value
MINOR LOSSES
Analysis details

19. Energy & cost output
Pipe data
Full pipe flow conditions
Pipe section head conditions
Resultant flow conditions
INDIVIDUAL PIPE SECTION
Analysis details

20. PIPELINE SUMMARY
Pipeline Energy & cost output
Pipeline flow conditions
Pipeline head conditions
Analysis details
Pipeline length

21. PUMP SELECTION

22. Capital,
maintenance &
power cost input
Selected pumps
operating conditions
Pipeline, solids & slurry input
Selected pumps
TCO comparison &
ranking
Selected pumps
performance & wear
life comparison
Typical pumps capital &
maintenance cost data
PUMP OPERATION & WEAR LIFE CALCULATION
Pump selection
criteria

23. Pump operating conditions
selection criteria
Pipeline, solids &
slurry results
Selected pumps TCO
comparison and ranking
Selected pumps performance &
wear life comparison
PUMP OPERATION & WEAR LIFE REPORT