Slurry duty
Sand 2.65 · limestone 2.7
Awaiting Valid Duty Parameters
Adjust the parameters on the left to compute live hydraulic values, ranges, and sizing verdicts.
Slurry eating your pumps?
Hard solids destroy standard impellers and seals. Our engineers specify hardened, open-impeller and diaphragm pumps for slurry duties.
Slurry pump sizing explained
Slurry density first
A slurry is denser than its carrier liquid, and the power absorbed scales with that density. Slurry specific gravity is calculated from the solids fraction by weight: SG = 1 ÷ ((1 − Cw) + Cw ÷ SG_solid). Ten percent sand (SG 2.65) in water gives about 1.066; twenty percent gives 1.14. Sizing the pump from the water SG would undersize the motor.
The calculator does this conversion automatically from your solids percentage and solid density.
Head margin and wear
Slurry duties deserve a head margin of 15–30 %: solids raise friction losses, and settled solids in the line need extra pressure to re-suspend at restart. The calculator applies the entered margin to the water-duty head before computing power.
Wear is the other story: impellers, casings and seals erode, so hardened castings, rubber lining or open impellers are standard above about 10 % solids. Magnetic drive pumps must not be used with hard solids — the bushings and magnets cannot survive abrasion.
Application notes
Effluent treatment, mining tailings, filter press feed and ash handling are the classic slurry duties. Diaphragm and peristaltic pumps handle high solids at moderate pressure; open-impeller centrifugal pumps handle medium solids at high flow. Teflow’s dewatering and slurry repair service re-builds eroded pumps with hardened parts — call +91 98251 62709 for a recommendation.
Technical & Operational FAQs
Q1.How do I calculate slurry specific gravity?
SG = 1 ÷ ((1 − Cw) + Cw ÷ SG_solid), where Cw is the solids fraction by weight. Ten percent sand (SG 2.65) in water: 1 ÷ (0.9 + 0.1 ÷ 2.65) = 1.066. Use this SG in the power formula — sizing from water undersizes the motor.
Q2.What head margin should slurry pumps have?
15–30 % above the clean-water duty is common practice. Solids raise friction, and settled solids need extra head to re-suspend after a stop. The calculator applies your chosen margin to the head before computing power.
Q3.Can a magnetic drive pump handle slurry?
No — hard solids destroy the internal bushings and can stop the magnets. Magnetic drive pumps are for clean chemical duties. For solids, use open-impeller centrifugal, diaphragm or peristaltic pumps with hardened or rubber-lined wetted parts.
Q4.What pumps are used for ETP sludge?
ETP sludge pumps are typically peristaltic or diaphragm for thick sludge, and open-impeller centrifugal for dilute slurry at higher flows. Sizing follows the same density-and-margin method — enter the sludge solids content in this calculator.
Q5.Why does my slurry pump overload the motor?
Slurry density raises absorbed power, and a water-based motor size is too small. Recompute with the slurry SG and add the margin; also check for settled solids at start-up — running against a blocked line overloads the motor even with the right frame.
Related Engineering Tools
Chemical Pump Sizing Calculator
Motor Sizing Calculator
Unit Converter Suite
Slurry Pump Repair
Diaphragm Pumps
Water Treatment Industry
Need a custom hydraulic audit or specific duty curve verification? Call +91 98251 62709 or Request a Detailed Engineering Quote.