An experimental study into flow assurance of coarse inclined slurries

Conference paper (2017)

Authors

E. de Hoog IHC MTI
M in 't Veld IHC MTI
J.M. van Wijk IHC MTI
A.M. Talmon Offshore and Dredging Engineering - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Deltares
Research Group
Offshore and Dredging Engineering (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Deep sea mining Flow assurance Hydraulic transport Deposition limit velocity Experimnetal research
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Published Date

2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Marine and Transport Technology

Research Group

Offshore and Dredging Engineering

Abstract

During hydraulic transport for deep sea mining, polymetallic nodules are
transported in various ascending inclined pipes located at the sea
floor. These inclined pipes can constantly change their angle of
inclination due to moving excavation equipment attached to these pipes.
Flow assurance during transport requires a safe transport velocity which
takes into account all inclination angles. A study was conducted into
safe transport velocities of slurries composed of gravel sized material
in ascending inclined pipes. Experimental research was conducted with
4.6, 6.3 and 12 mm diameter gravel in a 100 mm experimental flow loop up
to an inclination angle of 52 degrees. Measured parameters include
pressure losses, mixture velocity, delivered concentration, deposit
limit velocity and velocity profiles from high speed camera footage.
During this research, various literature sources have been studied for
definitions and models of transition velocities between safe and unsafe
transport. These definitions and models are discussed in terms of their
relevance for coarse slurries. With these definitions in mind and with
the experimental data a recommendation is given for a transportation
velocity of coarse slurries in inclined pipes.

Files

Hoog2017.pdf
(.pdf | 0.387 Mb)