Authors: K. Major, P. Wells, B. Abulnaga
Abstract
A significant component in the design of a mineral processing plant to ensure an efficient transition from concept (engineering) to reality (plant operation) is materials handling, the moving of ore through the different unit operations. The design of slurry systems using pipelines and launders needs to consider a number of different variables including slurry rheology, density, viscosity and particle size. In this paper the different regimes of slurry flows are reviewed outlining methodology for sizing full flow pipes, launders and upcomers. With the advent of modern personal computers, it is possible to size up slurry lines more precisely using specialty programs.
