D-8C Solids and Slurries-Useful Formulas

a. The formula for specific gravity of a solids-liquids mixture or slurry, S_m is:

where,

S_m = specific gravity of mixture or slurry
S_i = specific gravity of liquid phase
S_s = specific gravity of solids phase
C_w = concentration of solids by weight
C_v = concentration of solids by volume

b. Basic relationships among concentration and specific gravities of solid liquid mixtures are shown below:

Where pumps are to be applied to mixtures which are both corrosive and abrasive, the predominant factor causing wear should be identified and the materials of construction selected accordingly. This often results in a compromise and in many cases can only be decided as a result of test or operational experience.

For any slurry pump application a complete description of the mixture components is required in order to select the correct type of pump and materials of construction.

c. Slurry flow requirements can be determined from the expression:

EXAMPLE: 2,400 tons of dry solids is processed in 24 hours in water with a specific gravity of 1.0 and the concentration of solids by weight is 30% with the solids having a specific gravity of 2.7 then: