Slurry flow through a manifold with a horizontal approach: Slurry particle size distribution in the branches

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to examine the slurry particle size distribution in the branches of a linear manifold having a horizontal approach. The manifold was designed to maintain approximately a constant average velocity upstream of each branch. Slurry particle size distribution in the branches was measured for various manifold orientations (upward, sideways, and downward) and upstream conditions. For the upward orientation, the mean particle diameter of the slurry in the first branch was significantly smaller than that in the main pipe. The mean particle size for the slurry in the second and third branches was close to that in the main pipe. For the downward orientation, the variation of the particle size distribution with the branch number was opposite that observed with the upward orientation. The sideways orientation showed the least variation in the slurry particle size distribution in the branches with the branch number. Slurries having a wide particle size distribution gave a large variation in the slurry particle size distribution in each branch. Increasing the main pipe average velocity slightly reduced the variation in the particle size distribution with the branch number.