1. Erosional issues in pipes are considered for slurry flow?

Because salt out (settling) and erosion are

the limitations for slurry line sizing.

Ans. Fathom SSL does not calculate the amount of erosion or degradation on the pipe caused by the
slurry. We would be interested if you have a reference for this.

2. Does the accuracy of the slurry module effected by slurry concentration, because as the slurry
concentration increases particle interactions increases and effects particle settling velocity.

Ans. There are no explicitly stated limits on the accuracy of the method used in SSL, though the
method will decrease in accuracy as the slurry approaches “plug flow” with very high solids
concentrations. The SSL module is specifically designed to be used for pseudo-homogeneous,
heterogeneous, and sliding bed types of slurries.

3. For pump de-rating two methods are mentioned, ANSI/HI method and Warman method. What is
the criteria for selecting the calculation method?

Ans. Both methods have similar criteria for use. The Warman method is not as commonly used, so
generally the ANSI/HI method would be recommended if the user is not aware of the Warman
method.

4. For pump efficiency de-rating below option is given in SSL module, didn’t understood exactly.
Does the below snapshot mean the same data defined for head de-rating will be used for efficiency
de-rating? Or same calculations will be used for efficiency and head de-rating?

Ans. This means that the same de-rating correction factor will be used for efficiency as head. ANSI
standard ANSI/HI 12.1-12.6-2016 says that the efficiency correction factor to head correction factor
ratio is usually within 0.95 – 1.1. Using this option is the same as assuming that the ratio equals 1.

5. Could you please provide the de-rating factors calculation/ formula?

Ans. Please see the below images “Head De-rating Factor Formula” and “Nomenclature”. More
information on this can be found in ANSI standard ANSI/HI 12.1-12.6-2016 pages 52 & 53 and White
Paper “The effect of settling slurries on pump performance” by Walker, C. I.
6. Could you please explain what is the bed concentration and significance/applicability of it?

Ans. In the case where low velocity results in a sliding bed in the pipe, the bed concentration is used
to help calculate if the sliding bed has the possibility to become a stationary bed in the pipes. The
bed concentration refers to the volumetric fraction of solids in the bed that has collected at the
bottom of the pipe, which should be higher than the overall fraction of solids in the pipe.

7. There are vertical pipe theory and sloped pipe theory mentioned, can we define specific pipe
segments as vertical/sloped in our pipe network? However we have not seen vertical/sloped pipe
option while building the pipe network. We understand that there is not much difference for single
phase fluid if the pipe is vertical or sloped. For slurry lines where to provide (in software) the pipe
orientation?
Ans. AFT Fathom determines the pipe slope based on the pipe length and connected junction
elevations. For example, if a pipe goes from Reservoir A to Reservoir B and the elevation change
equals the length of the pipe, then the pipe has to be completely vertical.

8. Polymer slurries are typically non-Newtonian, Does the SSL module considers this effect?

Ans. The viscosity model must be specified by the user if it is non-Newtonian. This is done by
opening the “System Properties” window, clicking the “Viscosity Model” tab and selecting the
correct viscosity model from the dropdown. Depending on the non-Newtonian model selected, new
input fields will appear in the “Viscosity Model” tab window that the user must provide values for.