Basic Mechanisms of Slurry Erosion & Possible Methods of Prediction

This online engineering PDH course will present and define, the different mechanisms and process variables that effect rates of erosion of equipment components by slurries of severely or even mildly erosive solids, with examples of research data for potential methods of prediction.

 

Whenever any slurry of fine suspended solid particles flows through piping or equipment, such as pumps and valves, erosive wear of containing surfaces is inevitable, often rapid and eventually destructive. The rate of surface loss is proportional to the relative hardness of particle and surface, and the physical properties of surface and particles, as well as their shape. The surface may be amorphous or crystalline, and subject to erosive damage by brittle fracture or ductile gouging. The concentration of damage is greatest at points of high velocity and turbulence, such as passage through control valves or centrifugal pumps. 

 

Hardness is measured in different ways, such as by various penetration tests, which are measures of ductile deformation, or scratch tests that measure brittle fracture.  Equivalence of data for these methods is often uncertain.  Hardness of any material, whether mineral, metallic or organic, can be easily measured if fairly large sample surfaces are available.  Many slurries, however, consist of materials for which no large particles are available, and are often mixtures of many different substances.  There is therefore a need for credible means of measurement of the effective hardness of fine solids.   

  

This 5 PDH online course is applicable to mechanical or chemical engineers who are interested in learning about design of processes equipment handling flowing slurries of abrasive materials and prediction of rates of destructive erosion of equipment surfaces.