Slurry pumping in a vertical pipe 1

[firefighter26m]

I am pumping an iron ore slurry approximately 60' through a vertical pipe. After calculating the limiting settling velocity I have found the actual velocity to be roughly 1 ft/sec slower than the settling velocity, I am trying to avoid dropping pipe size due to a drastic rise in velocity.

My question is, since the particles have a very limited possiblity of settling out due to the upward movement of the water, is the limiting settling velocity a major concern in vertical pipes? I have looked thrugh Warman Slurry Pumping Handbook as well as the Slurry Systems Handbook, however neither cover the issue, they are strictly horizontal piping. Would it be better to simply reduce the pipe size, to speed the actual velocity up above the settling velocity, until the last couple feet at which point I could enlarge it again to slow down the fluid flow.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[stanier]

Suggest you get hold of the book prepared by Wilson, Clift and Addie Slurry Transport Using Centrifugal Pumps.

These engineers all work for Geogia Iron Works Pump Company, now part of KSB. They also run courses on Slurry transport. The book covers vertical pipelining.

Geoffrey D Stone FIMechE C.Eng;FIEAust CP Eng

http://www.waterhammer.bigblog.com.au

 

[firefighter26m]

Thank you Stanier...I was trying to decide between that book and Slurry Systems Handbook, unfortunately the Slurry Systems Handbook, as I discovered after I ordered it, doesn't well cover vertical systems. I will definately look at Slurry Transport using Centrifugal Pumps