Experimental investigation of some hydrodynamic factors affecting slurry pipeline wall erosion

Abstract

Abstract Using a non‐intrusive technique, particle velocities and concentrations have been measured as functions of position on the pipe wall for water slurries of two different sands. The experimental conditions correspond to both low (fine particles) and high contact load flows. Although the velocity and concentration distributions for the two sands were quite different, flux distributions computed from the product of velocity and concentration were similar. The flux distributions are used to interpret wall erosion distributions for sands of these sizes. In the case of the coarser sand, there is evidence that the contact load mechanism contributes significantly to abrasive wear. In this case, scaleup of erosion test results may be possible, using concepts provided by mechanistic flow models. For the finer sand, wall erosion rates appear to be reduced by a lubrication force.