Things You Need to Know about Slurry Pump

What is a slurry pump?

A slurry pump is a special type of pump capable of handling slurry. Unlike water pumps, slurry pumps are prone to wear and tear and are more robust and durable.

Types of slurry pumps

There are several types of slurry pumps, the most common being: centrifugal and volumetric pumps.

Centrifugal slurry pumps capable of providing high capacity with a limited head are mainly used for pumping slurry through pipes with a concentration of less than 70% by weight of solids. Centrifugal slurry pumps can be vertical, horizontal or submersible.

Positive displacement slurry pumps with limited capacity to deliver high head are used to pump slurry through pipes with very high solids concentrations.

What is Heavy Duty Slurry Pump?

WA series heavy-duty slurry pump is cantilevered, horizontal, natural rubber or hard metal lined centrifugal slurry pumps. They are designed for handling abrasive, high density slurries in the metallurgical, mining, coal, power, building material and other industry department.

Slurry Pump selection

Selecting the right pump for slurries is critical to get the most bang for your buck. Basic pump components, such as the impeller size and design, material of construction, and discharge configurations must be considered to ensure the pump will hold up against the wear caused by an abrasive slurry. Slurry pumps are generally larger in size when compared to low-viscosity liquid pumps and usually require more horsepower to operate because they're less efficient. Bearings and shafts must be more rugged and rigid as well.

Many types of pumps are used for pumping slurries.The centrifugal slurry pump uses the centrifugal force generated by a rotating impeller to impact kinetic energy to the slurry, similar to how a water-like liquid would move through a standard centrifugal pump.

Slurry Pump Considerations

If you have experience pumping slurries, you know it's not an easy task. Slurries are heavy and difficult to pump. They cause excessive wear on pumps and their components and are known to clog suction and discharge lines if not moving fast enough. Most importantly, it’s a challenge to make slurry pumps last for a reasonable amount of time. But, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your slurry pump and make pumping slurry less of a challenge.

1.Find the spot that allows the pump to run as slow as possible (to reduce wear), but fast enough to keep solids from settling and clogging the lines.To reduce wear, lower the pump’s discharge pressure to the lowest point possible. Follow proper piping principles to ensure a constant and uniform delivery of the slurry to the pump.

2.Pumping slurries poses several challenges and problems, but with proper engineering and equipment selection you can experience many years of worry-free operation. It's important to work with a qualified engineer when selecting a slurry pump because slurries can wreak havoc on a pump if not properly selected.

3.Basic pump components such as impeller size and design, materials of construction and discharge configuration must be considered to ensure that the pump can withstand the wear and tear caused by abrasive slurries. Slurry pumps are typically larger in size compared to low viscosity liquid pumps and often require more horsepower to operate due to their lower efficiency. Bearings and shafts must also be more robust and durable.