Claims
- 1. A slurry conduit for connecting to a suction inlet of a centrifugal pump for transporting a slurry mix of solids and liquids comprising:an inclined upstream section having a reduced cross section and the inclined upstream section placed upstream of the suction inlet whereby a concentration gradient formed within the slurry conduit is reduced.
- 2. The slurry conduit of claim 1, wherein the inclined upstream section is followed by a declining downstream section to reduce turbulence.
- 3. The slurry conduit of claim 1, further comprising a lower section disposed below and integral with an upper section of the conduit.
- 4. The slurry conduit of claim 3, wherein the inclined upstream section is disposed within the lower section.
- 5. The slurry conduit of claim 3, wherein the inclined upstream section is disposed within both the lower section and the upper section of the conduit.
- 6. The slurry conduit of claim 3, wherein the inclined upstream section slopes up from the bottom section of the conduit at an angle of between about 10° to about 30°.
- 7. The slurry conduit of claim 1, wherein the slurry having a settling velocity of less than about 5% of a horizontal velocity of the slurry.
- 8. The slurry conduit of claim 1, wherein the inclined upstream section rises to a height from the bottom section of the conduit between about 15% to about 45% of the total diameter of the conduit.
- 9. The slurry conduit of claim 1, wherein the inclined upstream section is located about 3 to about 10 conduit diameters from the centrifugal pump.
- 10. A process for reducing a concentration and velocity gradient formed within a slurry conduit comprising the steps of:uplifting a portion of the slurry within the conduit; and delivering a substantially nonstriated slurry stream to a section inlet of a centrifugal pump.
- 11. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of uplifting the portion of the slurry includes uplifting a layer of particles having a velocity lower than a mean velocity of the slurry.
- 12. The process of claim 10, wherein the substantially nonstriated slurry stream has a velocity which is substantially similar to a zero shock velocity of the centrifugal pump.
- 13. The process of claim 10, wherein the slurry is uplifted at an angle of between about 10° to about 30° from horizontal.
- 14. The process of claim 10, wherein the slurry has a settling velocity of less than about 5% of a horizontal velocity of the slurry.
- 15. The process of claim 10, wherein the slurry is uplifted to a point of between about 15% to about 45% of the total diameter of the conduit.
- 16. The process of claim 10, wherein the slurry is uplifted at a location of about 3 to about 10 conduit diameters from the centrifugal pump.
- 17. A slurry conduit for connection to a suction inlet of a centrifugal pump for transporting a slurry mix of solids and liquids comprising:a venturi section having a reduced cross section and the venturi section placed upstream of the suction inlet whereby a concentration gradient formed within the slurry conduit is reduced.
- 18. The slurry conduit of claim 17, wherein the venturi section slopes up from horizontal at an angle of between about 10° to about 30°.
- 19. The slurry conduit of claim 17, wherein the slurry having a settling velocity of less than about 5% of a horizontal velocity of the slurry.
- 20. The slurry conduit of claim 17, wherein the venturi section reduces a cross section of the conduit between about 15% to about 45% of the total diameter of the conduit.
- 21. The slurry conduit of claim 17, wherein the venturi section is located about 3 to about 10 conduit diameters from the centrifugal pump.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/150092 filed Aug. 20, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/150092 |
Aug 1999 |
US |