PUMP SELECTION AND POWER VERIFICATION To calculate Hf Head due to friction losses.

, we need to determine the m3/h of slurry

Case Study Sample and the adequate Pipe Diameter to maintain min 2.0m/sec or 7feet/sec on the line to
Prepared by Maurice Freivokh
DRAGFLOW NORTH AMERICA avoid sedimentation
The client provides information of how many m3 or Tons of solids he needs to If the concentration by volume of solids is 27.78% then we have
move and how much time he has. We need to ask the available working hrs/day,
days/week, weeks per month and months per year discounting holidays. With the 77x100 / 27.78 = 277m3/h of slurry
tonnage information and total amount of hours available, we can determine how
many Tons we need to move per hour (TPH). Using the friction losses charts of Cameron Hydraulic Data or the Abaco Flow vs.
Pressure, pipe diameter and Line Velocity, for 277m3/h (+/-1,200USGPM) of slurry to
The client provides also with: avoid sedimentation we need a 8”DIA Pipe resulting on friction losses of f = 2.2% or
2m for each 100m
H = 25m Static Head or difference in levels between the water surface and the discharge
If L = 70m We should consider a correction
S =15m Submergence, difference in levels between the water surface and the bottom factor for slurry of:
Hf = (70x2.2 /100)x1.7 = 2.62m 1.4 For fine sand (Cv 25%)
L = 70m total pipe length from pump to pipe discharge
1.7 For coarse sand & gravel (Cv 25%)

Then: TDH= H + Hwet lift + Hf

In this case the client needs to move 200 TPH of coarse sand and gravel (with a
Specific Gravity of 2.6 tons/m3), in a slurry with approx 50% (Cwsolids) concentration of TDH = 25 + 6.6 + 2.62 = 34.22m (Minimum Head required at the pump)
solids by weight.
With TDH = 34m and C = 277m3/h we initially select the following pump:
With 200TPH of solids with a SG of 2.6 tons/m3 we have
EL604 with 100HP
200 / 2.6 = 77 m3/h of solids use When units are
To Verify Power: 270 m, HP, m3/H
For pump selection we need to estimate the Total Dynamic Head TDH 360 m, kW, m3/H
BHP = CxTDHxSGslurry / 270xη 3900 ft, HP, USGM
TDH= H + Hwet lift + Hf
Where η is efficiency of pump and motor (Approx 0.5)
Where H is Static Head, Hwet lift Head due to submergence and Hf is Head due to
friction losses.
BHP = (277x34 x1.444) /(270 x 0.5) = 100.73 HP
To calculate Hwet lift (Head due to submergence) we need to calculate the Specific
This is fine as the pump has 100HP plus a SF of 1.3 but
Gravity of the slurry and the Concentration by Volume of the slurry
a better selection would be the EL604S with 120 HP
With SGsolids = 2.6 on Denver Charts we get Cvslurry = 27.78%
Cwsolids = 50% or SGslurry = 1.444
* Excavator Power should be 30% more than the Dragflow equipment needs.
if you have Cvslurry ……….SGslurry= CvsolidsxSGsolids+ CvwaterxSGwater i.e.: for HY85 + (2) EXHY20 we need (85+ 20+20)*1.3=162.5 Hp
SGslurry=0.2778x2.6+0.7222X1=1.444 Then we select a CAT 324 or 325 with 170 Hp

* A good site for calculations on the Web is www.patersoncooke.com

Now we can calculate the wet lift
Hwet lift = (SGslurry-SGwater) x S = (1.44 - 1)x15 = 0.44x15 = 6.6m