SOURCE: GIW Industries | September 29, 2023
What distinguishes slurry from other fluid types is the presence of a solid — gravel, copper, or sand — within a liquid. Although, in many cases, that liquid is water, a slurry may contain solvents, like acids, alcohols, or petroleum. Those non-water components, whether solids or solvents, make slurry pumps necessary.
In contrast to water pumps’ narrow and often inexpensive components, large replaceable slurry pump parts are made of sturdy, often specialized materials. These parts allow pumps to move nearly any type of solid within a slurry efficiently and safely. Water pumps, on the other hand, lack the hydraulic capacity to move solid particles and are unable to withstand the particle abrasion and chemical corrosion that slurries can cause.
What makes slurry pumps special?
Slurry pumps can withstand extensive wear due to characteristics such as: a large impeller diameter, shafts, bearings, and internal passageways as well as heavy-duty construction. On an industrial level, slurry pump features generate higher upfront and operational costs compared to water pumps. However, only slurry pumps can hydrotransport solid materials efficiently, and the long-term benefits outweigh initial costs.
Centrifugal force pushes something outward when it’s spinning rapidly around a center.
Key to slurry pump success is the generation of centrifugal force, which pushes material outward from the pump center. This contrasts with centripetal force, which pushes material toward the center. Slurry pumps must operate on centrifugal principles because the forces that impart velocity to the slurry accelerate the transport process. A centripetal pump, on the other hand, would be impractical since the solids within the slurry would accumulate instead of flowing freely.
Slurry pump installations
Knowing these basics, it’s also important for anyone looking to install a slurry pump to understand the specific environments required for each type of pump. Three types of slurry installations exist:
- Wet — In this installation, the slurry pump and drive are fully submersible. This is necessary for certain slurry pump applications, such as underwater operations.
- Dry — In this installation, the pump drive and bearings are kept out of the slurry. The wet end — which includes the shell, impeller, hub or suction liner, and shaft sleeve or stuffing box — is free-standing and clear of any surrounding liquid. Slurry pump technicians install most horizontal pumps this way.
- Semi-dry — This special arrangement is used for dredging applications with horizontal pumps. Operators flood the wet end and bearings but keep the drive dry. Bearings require special sealing arrangements in this case.
Although this guide provides an overview of slurry pumps and their installations, there’s plenty more to learn. For those who want to better understand slurry pumps and their applications or need help deciding which pump and installation type is best for their applications, GIW Industries Inc. is here to help.
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KSB Mining – Your Solution for Slurry and Non-Slurry Centrifugal Pumps.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of centrifugal pumps and valves, the KSB Group is proud to be the single-source for all of your pumping needs. Through the KSB Mining division, we focus resources on your industry, concentrating our leading expertise on centrifugal pumps in slurry and non-slurry applications in mining and dredging operations.
Solving Your Mining Challenges
We understand your production concerns. Top mining companies turn to us because we collaborate with them to deliver solutions that improve efficiency, increase safety and help them achieve their mining sustainability targets. We engineer our pumps and IIoT solutions to increase production while reducing power requirements, emissions, and water use.
We are dedicated to continuous product improvement. Our R&D facilities include a world-renown, full-scale Hydraulic Lab equipped for testing pump performance and optimizing slurry systems. This state-of-the art laboratory is where our experts develop new pump technologies and IIot features for your unique requirements.
GIW® Slurry Pumps
KSB supplies a comprehensive range of products for slurry transport. Our line of GIW® slurry pumps are designed to move slurry efficiently across various applications in the hard rock mining, mineral mining, oil sands and dredging industries. Our portfolio of mining products includes cyclone feed and other screen pumps, slurry pumps, and process pumps. GIW® slurry pumps are also used in hydrotransport applications and long-distance tailings disposal.
When it comes to slurry transport, we provide precisely what our customers need: rugged, cost-effective slurry and mining pumps. KSB’s innovative solutions help you maximize productivity while minimizing costs.
Choose GIW® pumps to extend runtimes, minimize unplanned outages and lower your total cost of ownership.
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Our global network reaches more than 100 countries. We have sales offices and Service Centers near you that provide comprehensive pump packages and technical consultancy support for hard rock and industrial mineral applications.
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