Research of Particle Motion in a Two-Stage Slurry Transport Pump for Deep-Ocean Mining by the CFD-DEM Method

Xianghui Su, Zhenji Tang, Yi Li, Zuchao Zhu, Kamila Mianowicz and Peter Balaz
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Xianghui Su: State-Province Joint Engineering Lab of Fluid Transmission System Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310000, China
Zhenji Tang: State-Province Joint Engineering Lab of Fluid Transmission System Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310000, China
Yi Li: State-Province Joint Engineering Lab of Fluid Transmission System Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310000, China
Zuchao Zhu: State-Province Joint Engineering Lab of Fluid Transmission System Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310000, China
Kamila Mianowicz: Interoceanmetal Joint Organization, 71-233 Szczecin, Poland
Peter Balaz: Interoceanmetal Joint Organization, 71-233 Szczecin, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: The slurry transport pump is the key equipment of deep-ocean mining systems. The motion law of coarse particles in the pump is not clear enough. In this paper, a hydraulic model of a laboratory-scale two-stage slurry transport pump is constructed, and the motion characteristics of coarse particles in the pump are numerically studied by using the computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method (CFD-DEM) method. The performance curve of the pump is obtained by experimental measurement, and the reliability of the calculated results is verified. Due to the application of the amplification flow rate design method, the optimum efficiency point of the pump is shifted to the large flow rate condition. Differences in particle swarm within two stages are compared. The position distribution, velocity variation and trajectory of particles in the impeller and bowl diffuser are studied in detail. The velocity of particles leaving the impeller depends on whether they collide with the impeller blade. The motion of particles in the bowl diffuser is divided into three periods. Collision between particles and blades in the bowl diffuser not only leads to energy loss but also gradually transforms the circumferential velocity of particles into axial velocity in the second period. This work can provide a reference for the study of wear and blockage prevention of slurry transport pumps.

Keywords: slurry transport pump; particle motion; deep-ocean mining; CFD-DEM; bowl diffuser (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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