A Complete Guide to Slurries and Slurry Pumps

Slurries are special compounds found in many processing industries, including food, construction, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, among others. Slurries combine the properties of both liquids and solids, so specialized consideration must be given when determining the type and size of slurry pumps to be used with them.

What are slurries?

A slurry is a mixture of solids and liquids, with the liquid acting as the transport mechanism used to move the solids. The size of the particles in a slurry range from one micron in diameter to hundreds of millimeters in diameter. Particle size significantly affects the ability of the pump to move the slurry through the process pipeline.
All slurries have five basic characteristics.
. More abrasive than pure liquids.
. Higher consistency than pure liquids.
. May contain large amounts of solids.
. Solid particles usually precipitate relatively quickly from the slurry's sediment when not in motion.
. Slurries require more energy to move than pure liquids.

ZJQ Submersible Slurry Pump

Effects to pumps

Pumping of slurries can have the following wear effects on pump and piping components.
Abrasion: including air shaving, high stress grinding and low stress grinding (for settled slurries only).
Erosion: Loss of surface material due to the action of particles in the slurry being pumped. Erosion occurs mainly during the pumping of settled slurries.
Erosion: caused by the action of electrical currents in the pumped fluid. Certain types of slurries (e.g., highly acidic or alkaline compounds) have a greater effect on component corrosion than more moderate slurries.

Vertical slurry pump used in African iron ore

Slurry Centrifugal Pumps

Slurry pumps are typically larger than standard pumps, with more horsepower and stronger 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 the way aqueous liquids move through a standard centrifugal pump.
Compared to standard centrifugal pumps, centrifugal pumps optimized for slurry pumping typically have the following features.
Larger impellers made of more material. This is to compensate for the wear caused by abrasive slurry.
Fewer and thicker vanes on the impeller. This makes it easier for solids to pass through than the 5-9 vanes on a standard centrifugal pump - typically 2-5 vanes.
For pumping abrasive slurries, these types of pumps can also be made of special high-wear alloys. Hardened stainless steel is also a common choice for abrasive slurries.

Volumetric pump types

Common types of displacement pumps used in slurry pumping applications include
Rotor pumps
These pumps use two engaging vanes that rotate inside the pump casing to move fluid from the pump's inlet to its outlet.
Twin-screw pumps
These pumps use a rotating screw to move liquids and solids from one end of the pump to the other. The rotating action of the screw creates a rotary motion to pump the material.
Diaphragm Pumps
These pumps use a flexible membrane to expand the volume of the pump chamber, introducing fluid from the inlet valve and then discharging it through the outlet valve.

Chongmu is a modern pump company specializing in production, research and development, sales and service. We have been in the centrifugal pump industry for more than 20 years. We have a modern standard pump room and a processing workshop with a variety of advanced processing equipment. To get the quote and more info, please feel free to contact us.