A Slurry pump is one type of water pump that is designed to be used in cases in which solids are either accidentally or deliberately placed in water. As centrifugal pumps pump rotates water with the help of an impeller. Based on the particular application rotation manages particulates and keeps solids from escaping and causing damage or corrosion to other components of the machine. In other situations, it can be used to keep solids in suspension by keeping them from settling or any other separation of solids from the liquid medium.
Certain substances and other materials have to be suspended by water to ensure secure transport. This can be accomplished by using the slurry pump to keep the substances suspended by constant movement.
The principle of the pump
While a variety of slurry pumps are on the market, the working principles are the same. Pumps are housed within an ultra-high-pressure casing generally in a semi-spiral design. Inside the casing, many drive mechanisms rotate the shaft and bearing assemblies. Impellers are situated in the shaft and have vanes that help to create the centrifugal force needed to rotate the slurry.
Once the drive mechanisms are activated, bearings ensure that the shaft is turning smoothly and consistently, while the impeller swirls, or spins the mixture
To show the effect of a slurry pump take a look at a mix of sand and water inside a normal drinking glass. The glass is swiveled at a sufficiently high rate and the sand will stay submerged in the liquid. Slurry pumps that are centrifugal work using the same principles however they are driven by drives, belts, and other mechanical parts to produce the high-pressure centrifuge required for massive quantities of heavy slurry.
The use of slurry pump
A slurry pump’s use is quite common in specific industrial processes. For instance, the mix of cement and water creates a slurry that is required to remain in motion to avoid water evaporation, and the subsequent drying of cement to make concrete. Mixer trucks for cement are a common illustration of a centrifugal slurry pump that is used to transport the slurry compound. Paper production is a different application that requires a slurry pump. Water and wood pulp are combined and then centrifuged by pumps during the making of various types of papers.
Different types of applications will necessitate different centrifugal pumps. In general, a slurry pump is designed to be used as it is a submersible pump because the majority of applications require high pressure and are most effective by placing the impeller within the slurry. The weight of the slurry determines the type of pump, its design, and the capacity of the slurry pump required. The designs can be easily divided into medium, light, or heavy slurry.
Light slurry usually results due to the accidental or unintentional introduction of particulates, for example in the case of the use of hard water or other solutions that contain less than 5 percent solids. Large particulates or high concentrations of particulates, or other compounds that require suspension for transportation call for medium or heavy pumping of slurry. The size of the particles and the percentage of concentration determine whether the use of heavy or medium slurry pumps is required.
The all-out consistency of Slurry pumps
Slurry pumps of high quality are ideal for metals, mining fertilizers, as well as other application that requires reliability when dealing with abrasive liquids. The optimized hydraulic design delivers top performance thanks to high-efficiency impellers and volutes that are specifically designed to optimize slurry flow, making it possible to reduce energy consumption and as well as lesser the total price of possession.
All the materials that come in contact with the fluid being pumped are chosen from high-quality, replaceable metal alloys or elastomeric substances. Large cross sections offer extended wear, which can be extended with a simple adjustment for internal clearances. This helps keep efficiency up and increase wear and tear on components with minimal downtime for maintenance. These components of hydraulics are positioned on a strong bearing frame and driven by an overhung shaft that is rigid and high-performance bearings, which are secured by seals for isolators. A variety of seals for glands are available such as an active seal and double or single mechanical seals.
Application for Slurry Pumps
Slurry pumps are employed in drainage, mining agriculture, dredging, and industrial (mineral treatment) applications.
Types of Slurry Pump
Centrifugal Pump
Pumps that are centrifugal are utilized to transport fluids via the conversion of energy into the hydrodynamic energy that the fluid flow. The fluid flows into the pump impeller near or close to the axis of rotation and is then accelerated by the impeller. It flows radially outwards into the volute chamber or diffuser (casing) where it is discharged.
The most common uses are water and sewage, agriculture as well as petroleum and petrochemical pumps. Centrifugal pumps are usually selected for their superior performance, flow rates as well as their abrasive solution compatibility mixing capability as well as relatively easy engineering.
Centrifuges are equipment employed in industries, and medical facilities to remove suspended matter from the media they are mixed with. This is accomplished by spinning sealed containers of the mixture rapidly around a central, fixed point. The centrifugal force generated by this motion pushes the denser substance that is suspended against the containers’ walls, making it separate from the solution. The devices used for this purpose isolate the solids out of fluid-based suspension media; as an example, they’re essential medical devices for the separation of plasma of blood specimens.
What is the best time to make use of a Centrifugal Slurry Pump?
Centrifugal slurry pumps are employed for liquids with high flow rates are required, if the mix contains abrasive or large hard or soft solids in high concentrations that can reach 100M Head. Positive displacement pumps may also be utilized for slurry but need to operate at a lower speed to minimize the wear of the pump.
Submersible Pump
Submersible pumps are pumps that can be submerged and serve their intended function. Certain pumps are designed to operate while fully submerged, while others can be placed submerged or in dry locations. It is crucial to be aware of the kind of pump you’re using to ensure it is not damaged while using it.
Submersible pumps comprise sump pumps and sewer pumps. These are the kinds that most homeowners are familiar with.
But the pump is also used in many different applications like well pumps, borehole pumps, and fountain pumps.
Submersible pumps protect their motors from the liquid that is being pumped. The motors are usually installed in a water-tight chamber that is which is filled with oil. The majority of the motors within these pumps are electric, operating on direct current or alternating current.
Advantage of Submersible
The benefits of submersible pumps are many. The first is the benefit of self-pricing since the liquid it is pumping, typically water is present on the pump’s surface. Furthermore, the submersible pumps might need to perform much less than a traditional pump due to being close to the liquid being pumped.
There are disadvantages to submersible pumps, too. There is a possibility that the pump could corrode and lose its seals which allows liquid to get inside the engine housing, causing significant damage to the pump. Additionally, since the pumps are submerged for a significant portion of their life, getting access to the pump for repairs might be difficult.
For home use, the majority of problems with these are reduced. Submersible pumps in the home might not be submerged all the time. However, if it’s submerged, the pump could not be completely submerged. But the pump must be easily accessible.
If you are looking for a submersible pump for use at home, many are designed for specific jobs. Certain pumps are more suited to handle solids and are suitable for sewer pumps. Some sump pumps could be suited to removing water from unneeded areas like basements that are flooded.
Vertical sump pumps
Vertical Slurry pumps can be highly customizable pumps that are designed to minimize maintenance and operating expenses. They need less floor space than horizontal pumps. They also have fewer wear parts and are made of the form of rubber or hard metal.
Vertical sump pumps are made specifically to handle abrasive slurries.
They are renowned for their durability and easy maintenance they are frequently employed in floor sumps for processing plants, mill scale pumping systems in steel
factories as well as for the pumping of machine cuts and chips of wood.
Common applications
- Process plants have floor sumps.
- Pumping of steel mill scales in steelwork
- The pumping of cuttings from machine tools
- Wood chips pumping
What’s the operating principle of the slurry pump?
Slurry pumps usually include a volute casing that is lined with rubber, and a rubber-lined impeller, to reduce wear on the internal metal components. Because slurries are highly rough and move with high speed, the rubber can be used as an oblation liner.
If the pump’s rubber gets worn out, the tolerances inside the unit grow, which means the pump will become less efficient. Some designs have adjustable front and rear to decrease internal clearances to increase the efficiency of the unit when they get worn.
If you want to know more about slurry pumps, feel free to contact our technical engineers
