Abstract:

Slurry pipeline transportation is an area that has wide reaching applications in the mining and mineral processing industry. Managers and engineers in all aspects of the process can be involved with slurry pipeline design, operation or troubleshooting. The course will cover a broad range of topics. Starting with a uniform technical language and approach to slurry flow analysis, participants will learn about the principles governing the pipe flow of slurries and will be introduced to appropriate scale-up methods for the design of fine-particle (homogeneous) and coarse-particle (settling) slurry pipelines. Methodologies to deal with the unique challenges of clays and fine particles in tailings will be provided. This course is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of the key considerations for, and unique challenges encountered in the design, implementation and operation of slurry pipeline systems.

Description:

Slurry pipeline transportation is a field that is not adequately covered in undergraduate engineering courses. Consequently, engineers are generally ill-equipped when faced with the task of designing a slurry transportation system or troubleshooting an existing installation while managers are often not aware of the important parameters that need to be considered. This has both technical and environmental implications. The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has conducted hundreds of slurry pipeline R&D programs in the last 60 years which has led to the development of predictive models applicable to the pipeline flow of settling and non-settling slurries. This course focuses on teaching the fundamental concepts of slurry classification and applying the basic principles of slurry pipeline flows to actual design situations. This course will provide an excellent opportunity for people involved in slurry transportation to meet in an informal environment, to share experiences and to foster a uniform technical language and approach for slurry flow analysis.

Course Delivery Strategy:

The course is ½ day (4 hours) in duration. It is divided into 4 x 1 hr sessions. Each session will consist of 30-45 minutes of lecture (via power point slides) followed by a 15-minute Q &A session. Breaks will be included between sessions where appropriate. Practical examples and case studies will be used to break up the presentations to drive home the key learnings. The content and concepts are high level and not overly technical. It will be presented in a straightforward and logical manner with increasing complexity throughout the course.

Short Course Objectives:
The key learnings of the course will be:

1. Slurry background and classification.

2. Slurry behaviour: Newtonian and non-Newtonian rheology.

3. Key parameters in slurry pipeline design: friction losses and minimum operating velocity.

4. Introduction to the SRC Pipe Flow Models for slurry pipe flow calculations.

5. Slurry pipeline instrumentation, practical examples and case studies to illustrate key concepts.

Target Audience:
All professionals, managers and decision makers involved in solids handling and slurry transport in the mining, mineral processing, chemical, industrial and engineering fields. Previous SRC courses have been attended by process engineers, equipment reliability and maintenance engineers, mining engineers, metallurgists, consulting engineers and equipment suppliers. An engineering background is recommended but not required. Experience working with mining and/or mineral processing slurry pipelines is an asset.

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Dr. Ryan Spelay

Biography