self priming slurry pump factory

As new coal-fired power plants come on line to meet the growing demand for electricity in the US and around the world, there is an increasing need to clean plant emissions to meet clean air regulations. Special pumps help to operate these scrubbers efficiently and handle the abrasive slurries used in the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) process.

Choosing the right slurry pump

The size of slurry pump impeller must be considered to ensure it holds up against abrasive wear. Slurry pump impellers are generally larger in size when compared to slurry pumps for less abrasive liquids. The more “meat” the impeller has, the better it will hold up to the task of pumping harsh slurry mixtures. Just think of slurry pump impeller as a football team’s offensive line. These players are usually large and slow. Throughout the whole game they are beaten up, over and over again, but expected to withstand the abuse. You wouldn’t want small players in this position, just like you wouldn’t want a small impeller on your slurry pumps.

As wear is a function of speed, slurry pumps should be operated at the lowest possible speed; units typically run at 1,200 rpm or less. Often, direct coupling between the pump and a low-speed motor or other drive makes the most sense. On the other hand, many other applications favour gearboxes to meet the required speed and operating point. In services where variable flow rates are required, variable frequency drives are used to provide the necessary continuous speed variation.

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.

It is critical to determine the right slurry pump size and power requirements for your application. Depending on the abrasive nature of the slurry, it is important to select a pump size that will allow it to run at a slow enough speed to extend the life of the slurry pump. The ideal RPM to run a slurry pump is between 900 and 1200 RPM. Once that speed is started to be exceeded, the life of the pump is greatly reduced because the wear points of the slurry pump are actually sandblasted.