Determination of Pressure Drop Characteristics of Fly Ash Suspension with Additive for Hydraulic Transportation

Abstract

Present study was conducted with objective of investigating the fly ash slurry transportation at higher solid concentration. The rheological behaviour of fine-particulate fly ash slurry suspension was studied with the additive. Pressure drop was measured in 50 mm diameter pipe with fly ash slurry at solid concentration (Cw) of 30, 40, 50 and 60% (by weight). Measurements were made for flow velocities in the range of 1 to 3 ms-1. Sodium sulfate was used as an additive in range of 0.2-0.6% (by weight). Addition of sodium sulfate in fly ash slurry suspension tends to improve the pressure drop characteristics. Reduction rate in pressure drop was pronounced more with 0.4% sodium sulfate in fly ash slurry and marginal with 0.2 and 0.6%. Therefore, results revealed that fly ash-water slurry can be transported at high concentration thorough pipelines with lower power consumption.