Editing Slurry

{{short description|Mixture of solids suspended in liquid}}
{{jargon|date=September 2022}}
{{for|the geographical place|Slurry, North West}}
[[Image:High angle.jpg|right|thumb|A slurry composed of glass beads in [[silicone oil]] flowing down an inclined plane]]
[[File:Potato starch slurry.jpg|thumb|[[Potato starch]] slurry]]
A '''slurry''' is a mixture of denser solids suspended in liquid, usually water. The most common use of slurry is as a means of transporting solids or separating minerals, the liquid being a carrier that is pumped on a device such as a [[centrifugal pump]]. The size of solid particles may vary from 1 [[micrometre]] up to hundreds of [[millimetres]].
The particles may settle below a certain transport velocity and the mixture can behave like a [[Newtonian fluid|Newtonian]] or [[Non-Newtonian fluid|non-Newtonian]] fluid. Depending on the mixture, the slurry may be abrasive and/or corrosive.

==Examples==
Examples of slurries include:
*Cement slurry, a mixture of [[cement]], water, and assorted dry and liquid additives used in the [[Petroleum industry|petroleum]] and other industries<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=cement |title=Shlumberger: Oilfield glossary |access-date=2012-05-06 |archive-date=2012-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531130250/http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=cement |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rheonova.fr/en/chemistry |title=Rheonova : Measuring rheological properties of settling slurries |access-date=2013-11-30 |archive-date=2020-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418021320/http://www.rheonova.fr/en/chemistry |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Soil/cement slurry, also called Controlled Low-Strength Material (CLSM), flowable fill, controlled density fill, flowable mortar, plastic soil-cement, K-Krete, and other names<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cement.org/basics/concreteproducts_clsm.asp |title=Portland Cement Association: Controlled Low-Strength Material |access-date=2012-05-06 |archive-date=2013-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017174048/http://www.cement.org/basics/concreteproducts_clsm.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>
*A mixture of [[thickening agent#Explosives and incendiaries|thickening agent]], oxidizers, and water used to form a [[Water gel explosive|gel explosive]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iring.ca/_Knowledgebase/module_2_3.html?ms=AAA%3D&st=MA%3D%3D&sct=MjI%3D&mw=MjQw|title=IRing - Creators of Aegis, an underground drill & blast planning software that helps a mine improve its effectiveness and efficiency|access-date=2020-01-02|archive-date=2020-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807045312/http://www.iring.ca/_Knowledgebase/module_2_3.html?ms=AAA%3D&st=MA%3D%3D&sct=MjI%3D&mw=MjQw|url-status=live}}</ref>
*A mixture of [[Pyroclastic rock|pyroclastic]] material, rocky debris, and water produced in a [[volcanic eruption]] and known as a [[lahar]]
*A mixture of [[bentonite]] and water used to make [[slurry wall]]s
*[[Coal slurry]], a mixture of [[coal refuse|coal waste]] and water, or crushed coal and water<ref>[https://archive.today/20130201031501/http://www.redvalve.com/rv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=56 Red Valve Company: Coal Slurry Pipeline]</ref>
*[[Slip (ceramics)|Slip]], a mixture of [[clay]] and water used for joining, glazing and decoration of ceramics and pottery.
*[[Slurry oil]], the highest boiling fraction distilled from the effluent of an [[FCC unit]] in an [[oil refinery]]. It contains a large amount of catalyst, in form of sediments hence the denomination of slurry.
*A mixture of wood pulp and water used to make [[paper]]
*Manure slurry, a mixture of animal waste, organic matter, and sometimes water often known simply as "slurry" in [[Agriculture|agricultural]] use, used as [[fertilizer]] after aging in a [[slurry pit]]
*[[Meat slurry]], a mixture of finely ground meat and water, centrifugally dewatered and used as a food ingredient.
*An abrasive substance used in [[chemical-mechanical polishing]]
*[[Slurry ice]], a mixture of ice crystals, freezing point depressant, and water
*A mixture of raw materials and water involved in the [[rawmill]] manufacture of [[Portland cement]]
*A [[Bolus (digestion)|bolus]] of chewed food mixed with [[saliva]]<ref>[http://www.rheonova.fr/en/fodd-industry Rheonova : Measuring food bolus properties] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131130092240/http://www.rheonova.fr/en/fodd-industry |date=2013-11-30 }}</ref>
*A mixture of epoxy glue and [[glass microsphere]]s used as a filler compound around core materials in [[sandwich-structured composite]] airframes.

==Calculations==

===Determining solids fraction===
To determine the percent solids (or solids fraction) of a slurry from the density of the slurry, solids and liquid<ref>Wills, B.A. and Napier-Munn, T.J, ''Wills' Mineral Processing Technology: an introduction to the practical aspects of ore treatment and mineral recovery, {{ISBN|978-0-7506-4450-1}}'', Seventh Edition (2006), Elsevier, Great Britain</ref>
:<math>\phi_{sl}=\frac{\rho_{s}(\rho_{sl} - \rho_{l})}{\rho_{sl}(\rho_{s} - \rho_{l})}</math>
where
:<math>\phi_{sl}</math> is the solids fraction of the slurry (state by mass)
:<math>\rho_{s}</math> is the solids density
:<math>\rho_{sl}</math> is the slurry density
:<math>\rho_{l}</math> is the liquid density

In aqueous slurries, as is common in mineral processing, the specific gravity of the species is typically used, and since [[Relative density|specific gravity]] of water is taken to be 1, this relation is typically written:
:<math>\phi_{sl}=\frac{\rho_{s}(\rho_{sl} - 1)}{\rho_{sl}(\rho_{s} - 1)}</math>
even though specific gravity with units tonnes/m<sup>3</sup> (t/m<sup>3</sup>) is used instead of the SI density unit, kg/m<sup>3</sup>.

===Liquid mass from mass fraction of solids===
To determine the mass of liquid in a sample given the mass of solids and the mass fraction:
By definition
:<math>\phi_{sl}=\frac{M_{s}}{M_{sl}}</math>
therefore
:<math>M_{sl}=\frac{M_{s}}{\phi_{sl}}</math>
and
:<math>M_{s}+M_{l}=\frac{M_{s}}{\phi_{sl}}</math>
then
:<math>M_{l}=\frac{M_{s}}{\phi_{sl}}-M_{s}</math>
and therefore
:<math>M_{l}=\frac{1-\phi_{sl}}{\phi_{sl}}M_{s}</math>
where
:<math>\phi_{sl}</math> is the solids fraction of the slurry
:<math>M_{s}</math> is the mass or mass flow of solids in the sample or stream
:<math>M_{sl}</math> is the mass or mass flow of slurry in the sample or stream
:<math>M_{l}</math> is the mass or mass flow of liquid in the sample or stream

===Volumetric fraction from mass fraction===
:<math>\phi_{sl,m}=\frac{M_{s}}{M_{sl}}</math>
Equivalently
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{V_{s}}{V_{sl}}</math>
and in a minerals processing context where the specific gravity of the liquid (water) is taken to be one:
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{\frac{M_{s}}{SG_{s}}}{\frac{M_{s}}{SG_{s}}+\frac{M_{l}}{1}}</math>
So
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{M_{s}}{M_{s}+M_{l}SG_{s}}</math>
and
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{1}{1+\frac{M_{l}SG_{s}}{M_{s}}}</math>
Then combining with the first equation:
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{1}{1+\frac{M_{l}SG_{s}}{\phi_{sl,m}M_{s}}\frac{M_{s}}{M_{s}+M_{l}}}</math>
So
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{1}{1+\frac{SG_{s}}{\phi_{sl,m}}\frac{M_{l}}{M_{s}+M_{l}}}</math>
Then since
:<math>\phi_{sl,m}=\frac{M_{s}}{M_{s}+M_{l}}=1-\frac{M_{l}}{M_{s}+M_{l}}</math>
we conclude that
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}=\frac{1}{1+SG_{s}(\frac{1}{\phi_{sl,m}}-1)}</math>
where
:<math>\phi_{sl,v}</math> is the solids fraction of the slurry on a ''volumetric'' basis
:<math>\phi_{sl,m}</math> is the solids fraction of the slurry on a ''mass'' basis
:<math>M_{s}</math> is the mass or mass flow of solids in the sample or stream
:<math>M_{sl}</math> is the mass or mass flow of slurry in the sample or stream
:<math>M_{l}</math> is the mass or mass flow of liquid in the sample or stream
:<math>SG_{s}</math> is the bulk specific gravity of the solids

==See also==
*[[Grout]]
*[[Slurry pipeline]]
*[[Slurry transport]]
*[[Slurry wall]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Slurry}}
{{wiktionary|slurry}}
*Bonapace, A.C. [http://solids-hydraulic-transport.com/introduction.html A General Theory of the Hydraulic Transport of Solids in Full Suspension]
*{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2012.11.003|title=Experimental study of hydraulic transport of large particles in horizontal pipes|journal=Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science|volume=45|pages=187–197|year=2013|last1=Ravelet|first1=F.|last2=Bakir|first2=F.|last3=Khelladi|first3=S.|last4=Rey|first4=R.|bibcode=2013ETFS...45..187R |s2cid=55554454 |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00631562/file/CaillouxFinalHal.pdf}}
*Ming, G., Ruixiang, L., Fusheng, N., Liqun, X. (2007). [https://www.westerndredging.org/phocadownload/ConferencePresentations/2007_WODA_Florida/Session4B-DredgingResearch/2%20-%20Ming%20-%20Hydraulic%20Transport%20of%20Coarse%20Gravel%E2%80%93A%20Laboratory%20Investigation%20into%20Flow%20Resistance.pdf  Hydraulic Transport of Coarse Gravel—A Laboratory Investigation Into Flow Resistance.]

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[[Category:Environmental engineering]]
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Fluid mechanics]]