Effect of Additive on the Performance Characteristics of Centrifugal and Progressive Cavity Slurry Pumps with High Concentration Fly Ash Slurries

Slurry pumps that are used in the hydraulic transportation of fly ash slurries through pipes in thermal power plants can be broadly classified into two main categories namely positive displacement and centrifugal pumps. The two types of pumps differ considerably in construction as well as in operating principle compared to the conventional pumps. The present study reports the effect of additive on the performance characteristics of centrifugal and progressive cavity screw pumps with fly ash slurries at high concentrations (above Cw < 50% by weight). Mixture of sodium carbonate and Henko detergent (5:1) at a concentration of 0.2% by weight has been used as an additive. For each type of pump, the effect of additive on the performance characteristics has been experimentally evaluated at rated speed with fly ash slurries in the concentration range of 50 to 70% by weight. The pump total head, overall efficiency and pump input power as a function of flow rate have been measured. The results obtained from the centrifugal slurry pump performance show that at rated speed, the performance of the pump improves with the addition of drag reducing additive. In the case of progressive cavity screw pump, pump performance characteristics and behavior were completely different as compared to the centrifugal slurry pump. At rated speed, the performance of screw pump deteriorates with the addition of drag reducing soap solution.