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Engineering ToolBox > Slurry Transport and Minimum Flow Velocity
A suspension of solid particles in a liquid, as in a mixture of cement, clay, coal dust, manure, meat, etc. - with water is often called a slurry.
In transport systems for slurries it's important to avoid the solids to settle. This can be done by keeping the fluid speed in the pipe lines above certain levels. The levels depends primary on the type and size of the solid:
| Type of Solids | Size of Solids (Mesh No) | Flow Velocity | |
| m/s | ft/s | ||
| Fine | over 200 | 1 � 1.5 | 3 � 5 |
| Sand | 200 � 20 | 1.5 � 2 | 5 � 7 |
| Coarse | 20 � 4 | 2 � 3.25 | 7 � 11 |
| Sludge | 3.25 � 4.25 | 11 � 14 | |
A pipeline transport system may under certain circumstances be nearly self cleaning. When solids settles the area of the pipe will decrease and the fluid speed increase until the state of equilibrium where the speed is so high that settling is avoided.
The speed should be increased in lifting lines by decreasing the piping diameter. At the end of the pipelines the speed should be slowed down by increasing the pipeline diameters.