Development of a predictive, laboratory-based tool for slurry pipeline wear

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

One of the most expensive (and undesired) processes that occurs in the mining and mineral processing industry is the erosive/corrosive wear of slurry (solids-liquids mixtures) handling equipment. Pipelines, in particular, are susceptible because mixture velocities and solids concentrations are high. Moreover, any failure is likely to result in huge economic losses. Unfortunately, the mechanisms governing slurry pipeline wear are not well understood and the amount of useful wear data collected over the past 20 years is very limited. In this project, we will conduct a thorough, fundamental study of bench scale tests that presume to provide hydrodynamics similar to pipeline flows (Toroid Wear Testers) to determine if they can truly be used as a predictive, laboratory-based tool for slurry pipeline erosion/corrosion. This research is valuable to any industry currently transporting product by pipeline and has the potential to help prevent the environmental impact of pipeline system failure. Results from this project are expected to have an immediate impact in the oil sands sector and in the international mining and mineral processing industry.