Identification of the slurry system operating window that allows increased throughput while optimizing capital and operating costs is integral to process plant design. Understanding rheology/fluid flow and the interrelationship between surface chemistry and rheology is prerequisite to the design, operation and risk mitigation of slurry transport and dewatering systems.
RCS offers training courses that provide participants with the knowledge to undertake a systematic approach to slurry system design, trouble shooting and optimisation. Courses focus on the identification of pertinent rheological data, interpretation of measured data, and application of rheological information to new system design and the optimisation of existing operations. Core areas and outcomes of training courses are:
- Understanding of what constitutes a slurry, as well as slurry physical and chemical properties and their effects on slurry rheology
- Identification of slurry system operating windows for increased throughput with optimal capital and operating costs
- Implementation of a systematic “decision-tree” approach for a rheology testwork program to obtain data for system design and optimisation
- Demonstration of how the rheological properties of slurries are measured and how to meaningfully interpret and use this data
- Detailed explanations and examples of the interconnection between rheology and physical and chemical factors on pipeline transport and dewatering