Calculate volumetric flow, slurry density, and total mass balance.
Slurry Volumetric Flow Rate (Q):–
Slurry Mixture Density (SGm):–
Total Mass Flow Rate:–
Liquid Flow Rate Requirement:–
Solids Concentration by Volume (Cv):–
function calculateSlurryFlow() {
// Get Input Values
var drySolids = parseFloat(document.getElementById('drySolids').value);
var Cw = parseFloat(document.getElementById('solidsConc').value);
var sgSolids = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sgSolids').value);
var sgLiquid = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sgLiquid').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(drySolids) || isNaN(Cw) || isNaN(sgSolids) || isNaN(sgLiquid)) {
alert("Please enter valid numerical values for all fields.");
return;
}
if (Cw 100) {
alert("Solids concentration must be between 0 and 100%.");
return;
}
if (sgSolids <= 0 || sgLiquid <= 0) {
alert("Specific Gravity must be greater than 0.");
return;
}
// Calculations
// 1. Total Mass Flow Rate (Mm) = Ms / (Cw/100)
// Units: t/h
var cwDecimal = Cw / 100;
var totalMassFlow = drySolids / cwDecimal;
// 2. Mixture Density (SGm)
// Formula: 100 / ( (Cw / SGs) + ( (100 – Cw) / SGl ) )
var term1 = Cw / sgSolids;
var term2 = (100 – Cw) / sgLiquid;
var slurrySG = 100 / (term1 + term2);
// 3. Volumetric Flow Rate (Q)
// Formula: Mm (t/h) / SGm (t/m³) = Q (m³/h)
var volFlowRate = totalMassFlow / slurrySG;
// 4. Liquid Flow Rate
// Total Mass – Solids Mass
var liquidMassFlow = totalMassFlow – drySolids;
// Convert to Volume: Mass / SG
var liquidVolFlow = liquidMassFlow / sgLiquid;
// 5. Cv (Concentration by Volume)
// Cv = (Vol solids / Total Vol) * 100
// Vol solids = Mass Solids / SG Solids
var volSolids = drySolids / sgSolids;
var cvResult = (volSolids / volFlowRate) * 100;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resVolFlow').innerHTML = volFlowRate.toFixed(2) + " m³/h";
document.getElementById('resDensity').innerHTML = slurrySG.toFixed(3) + " t/m³ (SG)";
document.getElementById('resMassFlow').innerHTML = totalMassFlow.toFixed(2) + " t/h";
document.getElementById('resLiquidFlow').innerHTML = liquidVolFlow.toFixed(2) + " m³/h";
document.getElementById('resCv').innerHTML = cvResult.toFixed(2) + " %";
// Show result section
document.getElementById('resultSection').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding Slurry Flow Rate Calculations
In industries ranging from mining and dredging to chemical processing and wastewater treatment, moving solids in a liquid carrier (a slurry) is a fundamental operation. The **Slurry Flow Rate Calculator** helps engineers and operators determine the necessary volumetric flow rate required to transport a specific tonnage of dry solids at a given concentration.
Why is Slurry Calculation Important?
Accurate slurry calculations are critical for sizing pumps, selecting pipe diameters, and maintaining process mass balances. If the flow rate is too low, solids may settle in the pipe, causing blockages (sanding out). If the flow rate is too high, it leads to excessive energy consumption and increased wear rates on pipes and pump liners due to abrasion.
Key Parameters in Slurry Physics
Dry Solids Rate (t/h): The target production rate. How much solid material (ore, sand, waste) needs to be moved per hour.
Solids Concentration by Weight (Cw): The percentage of the total slurry mass that consists of solids. This is typically determined by the process requirements or the limitations of the pumping equipment.
Specific Gravity (SG): The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water.
SG Solids: Typically ranges from 2.65 (sand/silica) to over 5.0 (heavy metallic ores).
SG Liquid: Usually water (1.0), but can vary in brine or chemical solutions.
The Mathematical Formulas
To determine the volumetric flow rate ($Q$) in cubic meters per hour ($m^3/h$), we must first calculate the density of the slurry mixture and the total mass flow rate.
Mixture Density (SGm): This value tells you how heavy the slurry is compared to water. A higher SGm requires more power to pump against elevation changes.
Concentration by Volume (Cv): While process engineers often speak in weight percent (Cw), hydraulic engineers often look at volume percent (Cv) to understand the spatial relationship of particles within the fluid, which affects viscosity and settling velocities.
Use this calculator to quickly iterate through different scenarios—such as changing the solids concentration—to see how it impacts the total volume of slurry that must be pumped and the water required for the process.