THE HETEROGENEOUS FLOW OF SOLIDS IN PIPELINES

A study of optimum economic design for transport of solids under heterogeneous flow conditions finds that economic designs may use either small-diameter, high-pressure pipelines at high velocities with high solids: water ratios, or, alternatively, large-diameter, low-pressure pipelines at low velocities and low solids: water ratios. Intermediate diameters are uneconomical. Large diameter low pressure pipelines are preferred, with centrifugal rather than displacement solids-handling pumps. Test data are given for pumping 19 mm pieces of coal in a 22, mm dia pipeline: the prime parameters of horsepower and velocity and friction losses were low for low tonnage rates (20 t/hr); the horsepower rose sharply to a peak at 75 t/hr, then fell slowly to a limit at 250 t/hr; the velocity and friction losses increased sharply from 40 to 60 t/hr, then more slowly to a maximum at pipeline capacity; the quantity of water required for transport was low for tonnage rates; increased rapidly to a maximum at about 100 t/hr, and then fell slowly up to maximum pipeline capacity.

• Corporate Authors:

  South African Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  London House, Loveday Street
  Johannesburg,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Limebeer, GJN
• Publication Date: 1970-3

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 101-106
• Serial:
  • South African Mechanical Engineer
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: South African Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic analysis; Pipeline transportation; Pipelines; Slurry
• Old TRIS Terms: Economic analysis (Pipelines); Pipeline economics; Slurries
• Subject Areas: Economics; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation; Pipelines; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00056351
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Petroleum Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM