Selection of mud pumps
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I’m considering purchasing a slurry pump recently. What parameters are required when buying such a pump? Is it okay without mud density? The current pump has a flow rate of 20 m³/h and a head of 50 m. I want to buy a pump with a high head, such as one with a head of 80 or 100 meters. Will the flow rate change in that case? Have the inlet and outlet diameters also changed?
Mud pumps generally need to provide flow rate and head; of course, it would be best if they could also indicate the density of the fluid, as this allows for the calculation of pipeline resistance based on viscosity. Additionally, the potential energy required can be calculated using density and head. However, in general, the potential energy of a conventional mud pump is much greater than the pipeline resistance. So, in general calculations, one mainly calculates the potential energy, adds a small margin, and then applies the mechanical efficiency. If you want to buy a slurry pump, you need to tell the equipment manufacturer the flow rate, the distance it needs to transport the fluid over, what kind of fluid it is, and to what height it needs to pump it. The equipment manufacturer can just give you a rough estimate.
With a high head, the flow rate will definitely change; the diameter of the outlet pipe may not change. It’s not necessary to choose a head that is too high – a slightly higher value is sufficient. Otherwise, the pump will wear out quickly, which is wasteful and also results in higher costs
Density and mud concentration, as important references for selecting motor power and material, must be provided
With a constant medium, changes in head will result in changes in flow rate, but the pipe diameter does not necessarily change.