Journal of Applied Mechanical Engineering

The use of the balanced beam tube viscometer for the rheological characterization of particulate suspensions

3^rd International Conference on Fluid Dynamics & Aerodynamics

October 25-26, 2018 | Berlin, Germany

Paul T Slatter

Sheridan College, Australia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Appl Mech Eng

Abstract:

Transport of solid materials in pipes is extensively used in a wide range of industries. However, efficient design of pipe and pump plant for industrial and mining slurries remains a problem. Apart from large-scale pipe tests, there is no well-established design method. Furthermore, theoretical models yield different results when modeled to particular slurry. Moreover, models become even more inconsistent when tested against a wide range of slurries. Hence, it is important to test the slurry to be used under design conditions in order to determine the pressure gradient and to establish the behavior of the slurry before the design of the pipeline can commence. Rheological characterization is important in designing pipeline systems and involves the measurement of shear stress in a fluid at various shear rates. The most common and reliable technique used to test slurries is that of large-scale pipe tests in which prototype pipe systems are used. The results obtained are reliable, but the test method is expensive due to the time factor involved and the size of the equipment. Furthermore, disadvantages such as particle degradation and temperature rise, normally associated with closed-loop pipe test rigs, create a further problem in establishing reproducible results which are correct. The objective of this paper is to develop a new test apparatus which is a reliable test viscometer, and which can solve many of the disadvantages encountered by pipe test rigs. It will also be shown that this apparatus, called the balanced beam tube viscometer can be used beyond viscometry, and is in effect; a miniature pipeline and valid pipeline flow data can be obtained directly from it. This data can then be used for the design of non-Newtonian slurry pipeline systems with a greater degree of confidence that was previously available.

Biography :

E-mail: pslatter@sheridan.edu.au