Selection and Sizing of Slurry Pumps

摘要

The mineral processing industry utilizes centrifugal slurry pumps in a wide range of key applications, including hydrotransport, grinding circuits, flotation circuits, thickening, and tailings disposal. Optimum system operation is dependent upon a large number of critical factors. Foremost, a detailed knowledge of the solid and slurry properties is required for sump and piping design, in order to prevent settling of the solids and to minimize air entrainment, as well as, to determine the flow, friction losses, head and pressure requirements of the pump. This same knowledge of slurry properties is also used to properly select a pump with the appropriate combination of geometry and materials to yield the best balance of the often conflicting pump priorities of stable operation, maximum wear life, and minimal energy consumption. These factors and choices will be discussed along with methods of applying the appropriate slurry corrections to the final pump selection.