What Do You Need to Consider before Buying Slurry Pumps?

We must address a couple of critical considerations before considering which slurry pump to use.

The size and nature of the solids in the liquid

The size and nature will affect the amount of physical wear on the pump and its components and if the solids will pass through the pump without being damaged.

A concern for centrifugal pumps is the speed and shear inside the pump may damage the slurry/solids. In general, twin screw pumps allow for the least damage to solids in a slurry.

The corrosiveness of the liquid or slurry mixture

More corrosive slurries will wear pump components more quickly and may dictate the selection of the material from which the pump is constructed.

Materials of Construction

The materials of construction are possibly the most important characteristics of your slurry pump:

Metal and/or rubber pump liners that are used will combat the erosion from the solid particles.

Metal casing will resist erosion caused by increased pressure and circulation. In some circumstances, the casing will be manufactured from wear-resistant steel, so that the pump can be welded if in need of repair.

Depending on the application, variations in these materials may occur. For example, if you work in the cement industry, and mainly handle fine particles at low pressure, the casing of your slurry pump may be constructed from a lighter material. Whilst in rock pumping, the pump casing and impeller must resist the hard knocks.

The sizes of slurry pumps

Pumps designed for pumping slurries will be heavier duty than those designed for less viscous liquids since slurries are heavy and difficult to pump.

Slurry pumps are typically larger in size than standard pumps, with more horsepower, and built with more rugged bearings and shafts. The most common type of slurry pump is the centrifugal pump. These pumps use a rotating impeller to move the slurry, similar to how a water-like liquid would move through a standard centrifugal pump.

Positive displacement pumps vs centrifugal-style pump

For certain types of slurry pumping conditions, positive displacement pumps may be a more appropriate choice than a centrifugal-style pump.

These conditions include:

• A low slurry flow rate
• A high head (i.e., the height to which the pump can move liquid)
• A desire for greater efficiency than that afforded by centrifugal pumps

If you’re looking to buy a slurry pump or would like to learn more about what pump will suit your application, contact our KATI Machinery team.