Suction characteristics of a thick material pump at high concentrations of coal slime

A test system was designed to study the parameters affecting the volumetric efficiency of a thick-material pump for coal slime. The parameters studied included solid concentration, the slenderness ratio of the suction cylinder and the running speed of the hydraulic cylinder. In the experiment the concentrations of coal slime were 75.7%, 76.3%, 74.4%, 73.5%, 72.1% and 70.63%; the running speeds were 0.23, 0.18, 0.13, 0.10 and 0.08 m/s; and the slenderness ratios of the suction cylinder were 1.63, 2.26, 2.88, 3.50, 4.13, 4.78 and 5.38. The results show that the suction volumetric efficiency decreases gradually with an increase in material concentration. The critical concentration value is 72%; below 72% the suction volumetric efficiency is above 90%, otherwise it decreases rapidly. When the solid concentration reaches 76.3%, the suction volumetric efficiency is only 40%. When the running speed of the piston is less than or equal to 0.23 m/s, the suction volumetric efficiency increases with an increase in running speed.