Pipeline transport of high density slurries: a historical review of past mistakes,lessons learned and current technologies

Abstract

There is a great deal of misinformation in the industry on pumping high density, viscous slurries. These misconceptions become ‘accepted truths’ as time goes on which, at best hinder, and at worst, stop the implementation of appropriate technology. Unfortunately, the root of these misconceptions is often due to negative experiences gained on poorly understood, poorly designed or poorly implemented systems. Advances in a technology can only be realised by accepting that the mistakes of the past can be rectified and learned from. Unfortunately, this does not readily happen in an industry that is resistant to change. The objective of this paper is to address these issues by tracing the historical development of high density pumping and why the problems of the past are not necessarily the same problems that we experience today. It is accepted that many of the fundamental problems cannot be resolved and continued improvements in ore processing will mean that new challenges will arise. However, there is a better understanding of how to deal with the issues practically, by using the latest developments in pump and pipeline technology.