Viscosity of slurries [1] Thomas (1965) formula

Data Ratio of viscosities

t = 32 C
p
/
f
= (1+2.5*Cv + 10.05*Cv^2+0.00273*Exp(16.6*Cv) )
C
w
= 35.0 % C
v
= 0.17 /1

S
= 2.7
T/m
3

p
/
f
= 1.73

L
= 1.0
T/m
3

Pulp dynamic viscosity
Volume concentration
p
= (
p
/
w
) * w
C
v
= 1/ (1 +((100-C
w
)/C
w
)*
s
/
L
)
p
/
f
= 1.73
C
w
= 35.0 %
w
= 0.0008 Pa s

s
= 2.7
t/m
3

p
= 0.0013 Pa s

L
= 1.0
t/m
3
C
v
= 0.17 /1 Pulp density

P
=
L
*S
S
/ ( C
w
+ (1-Cw) * S
S
)

L
= 1.0
t/m
3
Water dynamic viscosity C
w
= 0.35 -
t = 32 C S
s
= 2.71 -

w
=SaturatedWaterAbsoluteViscosity_t
P
= 1.283 t/m

w
= 0.00077 Pa s
Rev. cjc 29.04.2013
Pulp kinematic viscosity
(1+2.5*Cv + 10.05*Cv^2+0.00273*Exp(16.6*Cv) ) v
p
=
p
/
P

p
= 0.0013 Pa s

P
= 1283 kg/m
v
p
= 1.036E-06 m/s

L
*S
S
/ ( C
w
+ (1-Cw) * S
S
)
Viscosity [2] Rev. cjc 29.04.2013
1-5 DYNAMIC VISCOSITY OF A NEWTONIAN SLURRY MIXTURE
Although density is essentially a static property, absolute (or dynamic) viscosity
is a dynamic property and tends to reduce in magnitude as the shear rate in a
pipeline increases. Thus, engineers have had to define different forms of viscosity
over the years, everything from dynamic viscosity, to kinematic viscosity, to
effective pipeline viscosity.
The effective pipeline viscosity will be discussed in detail in Chapters 3, 4,
and 5. In this chapter, the reader is introduced to basic concepts of the mixture of
slurry in a stationary state. This is effectively what the pump, or a mixer, might
see at the start-up of a plant. As is often the case, when the driver cannot deliver
enough torque to overcome the absolute (or dynamic) viscosity, the operator is
forced to dilute the slurry mixture.
Plasticity as defined in Section 1-1-4 is an important parameter in determining
overall absolute (or dynamic) viscosity of a mixture of clay and water. There are,
however, numerous soils in nature, such as sand and water or gravel and water, in
which the solids contribute little to the overall absolute (or dynamic) viscosity,
except in terms of their concentration by volume.
1-5-1 Absolute (or Dynamic) Viscosity of Mixtures with Volume

Concentration Smaller Than 1%
For such solidliquid mixtures in diluted form, Einstein developed the following
formula for a linear relationship between absolute (or dynamic) viscosity and
volume concentration:
where

m
= absolute (or dynamic) viscosity of the slurry mixture

L
= absolute (or dynamic) viscosity of the carrying liquid
This is a very simple equation that is based on the following assumptions:
- Particles are fairly rigid
- The mixture is fairly dilute and there is no interaction between the particles
Such a flow is not encountered, except in laminar regimes of very dilute
concentrations (below a volume concentration of 1%).
1-5-2 Absolute (or Dynamic) Viscosity of Mixtures with Solids
with Volume Concentration Smaller than 20%
Thomas (1965) took the equation of Einstein further by calculating for higher
volumetric concentrations of Newtonian mixtures:
where K1, K2, K3, and K4 are constants
K1 is the Einstein constant of 2.5 (from Equation 1-7), and K2 has been found to
be in the range of 10.0514.1 according to Guth and Simha (1936). It is difficult to Frmula de Thomas
extrapolate the higher terms K3 and K4 in Equation 1-8. They are ignored with
volumetric concentrations smaller than 20%.

p
=

p
:
1-5-3 Absolute (or Dynamic) Viscosity of Mixtures with High

f
:
C
v
:
Volume Concentration of Solids
For higher concentrations, Thomas (1965) proposed the following equation with an Water properties (fluid f)
exponential function: t =

f
=
Volumetric concentration
C
v
=
Ratio of viscosities

p
/
f
=
C
v
=

p
/
f
=
where
K2 = 10.05 Absolute viscosity of pulp
A = 0.00273
p
=
B = 16.6
f
=
Figure 1-9 is based on Equation 1-9 and is widely accepted in the slurry industry C
v
=
for heterogeneous mixtures of a Newtonian rheology.
p
=
1-1-4 Plasticity of Soils
For clays and silts, an additional test for the liquid limit (LL) and the plastic limit
(PL) are recommended.
The liquid limit is defined as the moisture content in soil above which it starts to
act as a liquid and below which it acts as a plastic. To conduct a test, a sample of
clay is thoroughly mixed with water in a brass cup. The number of bumps required
| | ) 6 . 16 ( 00273 . 0 05 . 10 5 . 2 1
2
v v v f p
C Exp C C + + + =
to close a groove cut in the pot of clay in the cup is then measured. This test is
called the Atterberg test.
The plastic limit is defined as the limit below which the clay will stop behaving as
a plastic and will start to crumble. To measure such a limit, a sample of the soil is
formed into a tubular shape with a diameter of 3.2 mm (0.125 in) and the water
content is measured when the cylinder ceases to roll and becomes friable.

m
/
L
= 1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) SSHB (1-7) Einstein formula
C
v
= 1 %

m
/
L
= 1.025 Valid for C
v
< 1 %
This is a very simple equation that is based on the following assumptions:
- Particles are fairly rigid
- The mixture is fairly dilute and there is no interaction between the particles
Such a flow is not encountered, except in laminar regimes of very dilute concentrations
(below a volume concentration of 1%).

m
/
L
= 1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2 SSHB (1-8) Thomas (1965) formula
C
v
= 16.58 %
K
2
= 10.5 Valid for C
v
< 20 %

m
/
L
= 1.70 K
3
and K
4
are zero for Cv < 20 %
K
2
is in the range 10.05 to 14.1

m
/
L
= 1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2
C
v
= 19 %
K
2
= 14.1

m
/
L
=
1.98

m
/
L
= 1 + K
1
* (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2 +A * Exp(B*(C
v
/100) )
C
v
= 19 % SSHB (1-9) Thomas (1965) formula
K
1
= 2.5
K
2
= 10.5 Equation 1-9 is widely accepted in
A = 0.00273 the slurry industry for heterogeneous
B = 16.6 mixtures of a Newtonian rheology.

m
/
L
=
1.92
C
v
= 19 %
SVR = SlurryAbsViscosityRatio_SVR_Cv(I48)
SVR = 1.92

This equation is widely accepted in the slurry industry for heterogeneous mixtures of a Newtonian rheology.
Cv SVR
5 1.16
10 1.37
15 1.64
20 2.00
25 2.45
30 3.09
35 4.07
40 5.77
45 9.04
50 15.86
55 30.74
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
S
V
R



[
-
]



.

Slurry abs. viscosity ratio
60 64.05
Frmula de Thomas Frmula de Wellman

f
* (1+2.5*Cv + 10.05*Cv^2+0.00273*Exp(16.6*Cv) )
Absolute viscosity of fluid (water)
Concentration by volume /1
p
=
Water properties (fluid f) Water properties (fluid f)
32 C t =
0.00077 Pa s
f
=
Volumetric concentration Volumetric concentration
0.0017 /1 C
v
=
Ratio of viscosities Ratio of viscosities
(1+2.5*Cv + 10.05*Cv^2+0.00273*Exp(16.6*Cv) )
p
/
f
=
0.0017 /1 C
v
=
1.01
p
/
f
=
Absolute viscosity of pulp Absolute viscosity of pulp

f
* (1+2.5*Cv + 10.05*Cv^2+0.00273*Exp(16.6*Cv) )
p
=
0.00077 Pa s
f
=
0.0017 /1 C
v
=
7.72E-04 Pa s
p
=
0.00
10.00
20.00
0 10 20 30 40 50
S
V
R



[
Volume concentration Cv [%]
| | ) 6 . 16 ( 00273 . 0 05 . 10 5 . 2 1
2
v v v f p
C Exp C C + + + =
8
62 . 0
1
) 4 . 10 (
|
.
|

\
|


=
v
v
f p
C
C Exp

This equation is widely accepted in the slurry industry for heterogeneous mixtures of a Newtonian rheology.
Series1
Frmula de Wellman

m
/
L
= 1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100)
JRI (2.2.3.a) C
v
= 1
Wellman(1977) formula
m
/
L
= 1.025
This is a very simple equation that is based on the following assumptions:
- Particles are fairly rigid

f
* Exp(-10.4*Cv) / (1-Cv/0.62 )^8
- The mixture is fairly dilute and there is no interaction between the particles
Such a flow is not encountered, except in laminar regimes of very dilute
Water properties (fluid f) concentrations (below a volume concentration of 1%).
32 C
0.00077 Pa s
m
/
L
= 1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2
Volumetric concentration C
v
= 0.17
0.0017 /1 K
2
= 10.5

m
/
L
= 1.00
Ratio of viscosities
Exp(-10.4*Cv) / (1-Cv/0.62 )^8
m
/
L
= 1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2
0.0017 C
v
= 19
1.00 K
2
= 14.1

m
/
L
=
1.98
Absolute viscosity of pulp

f
* Exp(-10.4*Cv) / (1-Cv/0.62 )^8
m
/
L
= 1 + K
1
* (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2 +A * Exp(B*(C
v
/100) )
0.00077 Pa s C
v
= 0.17
0.0017 /1 K
1
= 2.5
7.70E-04 Pa s
K
2
=
10.05
A = 0.00273
B = 16.6

m
/
L
=
1.01
60 70
8
62 . 0
1
) 4 . 10 (
|
.
|

\
|


=
v
v
f p
C
C Exp

1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) SSHB (1-7) Einstein formula
%
Valid for C
v
< 1 %
This is a very simple equation that is based on the following assumptions:
- The mixture is fairly dilute and there is no interaction between the particles
Such a flow is not encountered, except in laminar regimes of very dilute
concentrations (below a volume concentration of 1%).
1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2 SSHB (1-8) Thomas (1965) formula
%
Valid for C
v
< 20 %
K
3
and K
4
are zero for Cv < 20 %
K
2
is in the range 10.05 to 14.1
1 + 2.5 * (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2
%
1 + K
1
* (C
v
/100) + K
2
* (C
v
/100)^2 +A * Exp(B*(C
v
/100) )
% SSHB (1-9) Thomas (1965) formula
JRI (2.2.3.a)
Equation 1-9 is widely accepted in
the slurry industry for heterogeneous
mixtures of a Newtonian rheology.
[1] Curso de transporte hidraulico de solidos
Tecnex (JR)
[2] Slurry systems handbook