Flushing fluid for centrifugal pumps used in the pipelining of slurries
First Claim
1. In a method for transporting an aqueous slurry of particulate solids in a pipeline wherein said aqueous slurry has an effective viscosity greater than water and is pumped through said pipeline by at least one centrifugal pump wherein a flushing fluid is used to maintain the bearing surfaces in said centrifugal pump substantially free of said particulate solids, the improvement comprising:
- the use of a thickened aqueous flushing fluid, said thickened aqueous flushing fluid consisting essentially of an aqueous solution and a thickening agent in an amount sufficient to increase the viscosity of said thickened aqueous flushing fluid to at least about 80 percent of the viscosity of said aqueous slurry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In methods for transporting an aqueous slurry of particulate solids in a pipeline wherein the aqueous slurry has an effective viscosity greater than water and is pumped through the pipeline by at least one centrifugal pump wherein a flushing fluid is used to maintain the bearing surfaces in the centrifugal pump free of particulate solids, an improvement comprising; the use of a thickened aqueous flushing fluid having a viscosity equal to at least about 80 percent of the viscosity of the aqueous slurry.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. In a method for transporting an aqueous slurry of particulate solids in a pipeline wherein said aqueous slurry has an effective viscosity greater than water and is pumped through said pipeline by at least one centrifugal pump wherein a flushing fluid is used to maintain the bearing surfaces in said centrifugal pump substantially free of said particulate solids, the improvement comprising:
- the use of a thickened aqueous flushing fluid, said thickened aqueous flushing fluid consisting essentially of an aqueous solution and a thickening agent in an amount sufficient to increase the viscosity of said thickened aqueous flushing fluid to at least about 80 percent of the viscosity of said aqueous slurry.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Specification