Slurries are specialised compounds found in various processing industries, combining both solids and liquids’ properties. Various industries classify slurries depending on how aggressive they are. Some may be more aggressive than others, which is why it’s essential to choose the right pump in transporting them. 

Meanwhile, a slurry pump is a kind of centrifugal pump that increases the energy of a solid-liquid mixed medium under the centrifugal force, converting the electric energy into kinetic energy and potential energy of the medium. There are various types of slurry pumps available in the market. But which among those types are best for your needs?

Horizontal Slurry Pump

A horizontal slurry pump has its shaft parallel to the horizontal plane, hence its name. It is a single-stage, single-suction axial suction, cantilever horizontal centrifugal pump with a high-strength and wear-resistant materials for the overflow parts. The horizontal slurry pump is most suitable for conveying strong abrasion, high concentration, corrosive significanceand fine particle slurry. It’s often used in metallurgy, mining, electrical power, coal mine and other industries to transport abrasive slurries.

ZJW Abrasion Resistant Feed Slurry Pump

Vertical Slurry Pump

Unlike the horizontal slurry pump, the vertical slurry pump is often used in slurry pools. The pump head should be submerged below the liquid—also why it’s called a submerged slurry pump. However, not all vertical slurry pumps are submerged underwater. It depends on the motor and the non-pump head compartments. It’s often used in conveying corrosive, coarse particles and high concentration slurry.

Submerged Slurry Pump

The Submerged Slurry Pump is a vertical single-stage single-suction cantilever centrifugal pump, and the impeller is a semi-open impeller. A mixing blade is arranged at the suction edge extension of the impeller. Its main selling point is the length of its pump shaft in the submerged part, reaching 800 to 2000 millimetres. It is mainly used in municipal engineering, paper mills, cement plants, printing and dyeing plants.

Submersible Slurry Pump

Last on the list is the submersible slurry pump. It is the coaxial integration of the pump and the motor. Its main selling point is there is no need to build complex fixtures and protective measures on the ground. It can be quickly submerged into the slurry and allow to do its job. Since a mechanical seal protects the motor, it prevents high-pressure water and impurities from entering the motor cavity. The submersible pump is most suitable for conveying slurry containing abrasive particles, such as sand, cinder and tailings.

How To Select the Right Slurry Pump

Selecting the correct type of slurry pump should be based on four factors: performance, material conveyed, sealing type and transmission mode. However, it can also depend on other factors, such as on-site working conditions and the acidity or alkalinity of the slurry.

It’s crucial to know about all these things to ensure that the chosen pump works along with its limits, providing superb performance and work satisfaction. There are four types of pumps for a reason—there are varied slurry types.

Conclusion

Selecting and operating a slurry pump can all vary based on various factors that play on-site. It’s a complex task due to how difficult it is to balance the pumps available in the market. However, try to consider the flow, pressure, viscosity, abrasiveness, particle size and particle type of the slurry you’re dealing with. If you need more help, an applications engineer should help you consider these factors to help you navigate for the best pump for the project.