Modelling Heterogeneous Slurry Flows at High Velocities

Experiments have been conducted with sand slurries of median diameter 0.09 mm and 0.27 mm in a laboratory test pipeline 0.103 m in diameter. In addition to pressure gradient measurements as functions of mean velocity and in-situ solids concentration, concentration and velocity profiles have been obtained. The measurements show that the pipeline friction is lower than expected at high velocities. This deviation is of the type that has been predicted in recent theoretical work by Wilson and coworkers. A correlation for the slurry friction at high velocities has been obtained. This correlation has been used to modify the model for predicting friction of heterogeneous slurries at velocities above the deposition condition.