Slurry Pump Selection

If you have ever pumped slurry, you know it is one of the most challenging fluids to move. It is abrasive, viscous, sometimes corrosive, and contains a lot of solids. There is no doubt that the slurry is very difficult for the pump. But the more you know about what you are pumping, the better your pump selection becomes, setting a you up for longer mean time between failure.

Choosing the right pump for the slurry is the key to maximum benefit. The basic components of the pump, such as the size and design of the impeller, structural materials and discharge structure, must be considered to ensure that the pump can resist the wear caused by the abrasive slurry. Compared with low-viscosity liquid pumps, slurry pumps are generally larger in size and usually require more horsepower to operate because of their lower efficiency. Bearings and shafts must also be stronger and more rigid.

KTQ Submersible Slurry Pump

The following are the common characteristics of slurry:

• Abrasive
• Thick consistency
• Does it contain a lot of solids
• Usually resolved quickly
• Need more power than "water pump" to run

Selecting the Right Pump

To ensure your pump is suitable, consider the following attributes:

• Impeller: the impeller should have large enough passageways so that the solid particles, no matter their size, can pass through without clogging.
• Casing: The casing of the pump, which handles the pressure, should have larger gaps between the impeller and the cut water tongue, to reduce wear and prevent large solid particles from getting stuck.

These two elements, when combined with the other components, have crucial roles in the operational success of the pump moving the slurry. If these parts are not appropriate you may be spending money on maintenance and causing longer downtime.

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 the 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.

Slurry pump considerations

If you have experience in pumping slurry, you know that this is not an easy job. The slurry is heavy and difficult to pump. They can cause excessive wear of the pump and its components, and if the movement speed is not fast enough, they can block the suction and discharge pipes. Most importantly, it is a challenge to make the slurry pump last for a reasonable time. However, there are things you can do to extend the life of your slurry pump and make pumping slurry less challenging.

Multi-stage Submersible Water Pump

Find the best operating point to make the pump run as slow as possible (to reduce wear), but fast enough to prevent solids from settling and clogging the lines

In order to reduce wear, the exhaust pressure of the pump should be reduced as much as possible to the lowest

Follow proper piping principles to ensure that the slurry is delivered to the pump consistently and evenly

Pumping slurry brings some challenges and problems, but with the right engineering and equipment selection, you can experience years of worry-free operation. When choosing a slurry pump, it is important to work with a qualified engineer, because if not selected correctly, the slurry may cause serious damage to the pump.

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