china centrifugal slurry pump spare parts

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.

Slurry Pump

The design of the slurry pump is critical to ensure that the abrasive and often corrosive aspects of the slurry do not damage the impeller. In addition, slurries and sludges may contain large amounts of unforeseen solids, which will inevitably clog many types of pumps. Since most centrifugal pump impellers have very tight tolerances on the worm gear, the abrasive (and sometimes corrosive) nature of the slurry will quickly wear down the worm gear and destroy the tolerances. In turn, this causes the pump to lose suction. This can lead to extensive downtime of the slurry pump, as well as expensive maintenance and spare parts.

The rule of thumb for setting the water pressure is the same when using the pack box, whether flushing. Mud pump shut-off pressure plus 10% or plus 20 psi, whichever is greater. However, the flow rate is set differently.

Slurry Pump

First, what is a slurry? A slurry is a semi-liquid mixture, usually consisting of fine particles. Examples of slurries can include manure, cement, starch, or coal suspended in water. There are countless other combinations that can be considered slurries. Because of the added particles and thicker consistency, special pump requirements should be considered. A standard pump may be able to handle the fluid, but not as effectively as a properly sized slurry pump.