Graham L.J.W., Pullum L., Slatter P., Sery G., Rudman M.
CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, PO Box 56, Highett, VIC 3190, Australia; Private Consultant, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Rheology and Materials Processing Centre, School of Civil Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St., Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Flow Process Research Centre, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, Private Bag 33 Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia
Graham, L.J.W., CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, PO Box 56, Highett, VIC 3190, Australia; Pullum, L., Private Consultant, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Slatter, P., Rheology and Materials Processing Centre, School of Civil Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St., Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sery, G., Flow Process Research Centre, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Rudman, M., CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, Private Bag 33 Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia
Centrifugal pumps are widely used for transporting suspensions, but their head performance is derated when non-Newtonian fluids and/or coarse solids are present. Some head deration methods are available for high viscosity Newtonian fluids, Bingham plastic fluids and for coarse solids in water. This paper presents a modification of the Hydraulic Institute head deration method that is suitable for any homogeneous non-Newtonian rheology. A modification of the Walker and Goulas method is also considered. Possible anomalous behaviour of kaolin slurries in centrifugal pumps is discussed. ©2009 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering.
Bingham plastic fluids; Head performance; Homogeneous suspensions; Newtonian fluids; Non-Newtonian fluids; Non-Newtonian rheology; Centrifugal pumps; Fluid dynamics; Hydraulic machinery; Kaolin; Multiphase flow; Newtonian liquids; Non Newtonian flow; Pumping plants; Pumps; Rheology; Viscosity; Suspensions (fluids)