The design and refabrication of a slurry hydrotransport system

The 3-inch slurry pipeline in the Clarkson Hydrotransport laboratory has the capabilities to pump slurries and measure valve characteristics using sensors. However, it cannot determine the slurry density without sampling. A new 4-inch pipeline was constructed to test valves and to determine the density of slurries using two differential pressure measurements in a U-bend section of the pipeline. The measurement and control system of the pipeline is monitored using an upgraded computer control program.; Numerous tests were conducted to measure the performance capabilities of the new pipeline, to ensure that the designed density measurement system works and to test valves in both pipelines. The new pipeline has an 80-horsepower pump with an operating range between zero and 700 gpm, that creates a maximum pressure of 80 psi. Tests showed that the measurement of the slurry density is possible using a density coefficient and the flow rate.