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Measurement of slurry properties

ChemicalProcessing.com

Keywords: slurry, "slurries" and "measuring slurries"

Measurement of slurry properties and process conditions is often much more difficult than with liquids and gases. However, instrumentation advances have made slurry measurements more reliable, primarily due to non-intrusive and/or non-restrictive sensors, and the durability of these devices.

Measurement of slurry properties and process conditions is often much more difficult than with liquids and gases.  However, instrumentation advances have made slurry measurements more reliable, primarily due to non-intrusive and/or non-restrictive sensors, and the durability of these devices.  Examples of some selected instruments are given below: (Click to enlarge.)

A much more comprehensive analysis of these specific instruments can be found in reference 11, which has several other references to selection documents for viscometers and many other devices for process operations involving slurries.

Installation of slurry instrumentation is a little more complex than for liquids and requires a little more consideration during design. Major points are:

1. Proper orientation of an intrusive sensor in the flow to compensate for erosive effects, any entrained gases, and flow conditions (laminar or turbulent);
2. The effect of flow disturbances on the uniformity of the slurry and erosion;
3. Providing a design that allows for bypass of the instrument;
4. Providing a way to calibrate the instrument in the field, and on the actual slurry under process conditions; and
5. Determining what effect long-term buildup of deposits will have on performance, and providing for sampling or audits of the process.