Slack Flow

HYDRAULIC GRADE LINE (HGL)
Discussion relating to slack flow requires an understanding of the hydraulic grade line. It is also the basis for operator training and an excellent visual tool to assess the operating limits of the pipeline. The energy line is a graphic representation of Bernoullis equation, expressed in meters of Column height of that particular liquid. The total energy, also referred to as total head (H), is made up of three components: the potential head, or height of the pipeline above sea level (Z); the static head, which is a function of the pressure and the density of the liquid in the pipeline (p/, or pressure expressed in meters of fluid); and the dynamic head, a function of velocity (v2/2g): H = p/ + v2/2g + z (energy line) When plotted as a function of pipeline distance, the total head in meters of liquid is a straight sloped line, assuming a constant pipe diameter and constant liquid density in steady state. The slope of the line represents the loss of head (friction) in the pipeline. Since, in most pipelines, the dynamic head is negligible, this term is eliminated from the equation, and the remaining terms represent the hydraulic grade line, sometimes referred to as the piezometric headline: H = p/ + z (hydraulic grade line) When superimposing the pipeline terrain profile (or potential head Z) on the same plot, the distance between the profile and the hydraulic grade line conveniently represents the pressure in the pipeline expressed in meters of that fluid. Therefore, if fluids of different densities (say slurry and water) are in the same pipeline, at the interface of the two liquids, a discontinuity will appear in the hydraulic gradient. This is because; on one side of the interface the pipeline pressure is expressed in meters of slurry, while on the other side of the interface it is expressed in meters of water. Another set of lines shown on the same graph represent allowable head for steady-state and for transient conditions. These lines are also plotted in meters of fluid, and therefore, will also show a discontinuity at the interface of two batches. For proper operations, the hydraulic gradient must always stay in the area between the allowable headlines and the profile. If the hydraulic grade line intersects the allowable headlines, the pipeline is over-pressured, and if the hydraulic grade line intersects the profile, the flow will go slack (i.e., partially filled pipe). Figure 3 shows commonly used definitions in slurry pipeline engineering.
Allowable head for transient conditions Discontinuity at the Interface of two batches Allowable head for steady state
Hydraulic grade line
Discontinuities at wall thickness change points Head loss of energy dissipation station
p/
Pipeline Profile
Figure 3: Definitions used in slurry pipeline engineering
SLACK FLOW Slack flow means that the fluid transported does not fill the cross section of the pipeline. This condition occurs when the pressure in the pipeline drops to the liquids vapor pressure, which for water is 6m to 10m, depending on altitude and water temperature. However, for practical purposes, PSI considers slack flow to occur when p/ = 0, or when the hydraulic grade line H = z. Graphically, this means that we consider slack flow to occur when the hydraulic grade line intersects the profile as shown in the Figure 1.
Slack flow section
Slurry batch
Water batch
Figure 1: Representation of slack flow
Physically, when the pressure drops below the vapor pressure, we encounter an open channel flow regime, with flow velocities many times higher than for the full-pipe flow regime. In open channel conditions, the velocity (a function of the pipe diameter, the pipe grade, as well as the flow rate in the pipeline) is usually unacceptably high for slurry flow due to wear and cavitation considerations. A concentrate pipeline is expected to have a life of at least 20 years, with little to no wear when operating in a packed condition. However, when subjected to continuous slack flow, wear could erode the pipe very rapidly.
If slack flow avoidance were only a matter of maintaining the flow rate in the pipeline high enough, it would not be an issue. However, when liquids of different densities flow in a pipeline with an undulating profile, slack flow can develop when the interface of the two dissimilar liquids moves into a low point of the profile, and the denser liquid is upstream. Figures 2 and 3 show the HGL for a slurry/water batch combination at different interface locations. In both cases the flow rate is the same and the density of the slurry is assumed to be twice that of water. In Figure 2 there is no slack flow, in Figure 3, where the interface is in the valley, slack flow occurs in the slurry batch in the upstream leg of the valley.
Figure 2: No slack flow
Figure 3: Slack flow occurs when slurry pushes water down
We have shown in Figure 4, a scenario with slurry on the upstream side of the valley, and water on the downstream side, causing slack flow. However, under the same flow conditions, but with water on the upstream side of the valley and slurry on the downstream side, over-pressure occurs, as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 4: No over-pressure
Figure 5: Over-pressure occurs when water pushes slurry down
Inserting water batches between the slurry batches to mitigate possible crosscontamination requires more complex operating procedures. The densities of the copper and zinc slurries are approximately twice that of the adjoining water, and conditions of slack flow (partially filled pipe) and over-pressure (pressure exceeds pipe allowable) can develop as the interfaces move through the pipeline in mountainous terrain. Both conditions are detrimental to the integrity of the pipeline but can be prevented with adjustable energy dissipation (choke) stations and careful operation of the pipeline .

Slack Flow

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What are some factors that affect slack flow in pipelines?

What issues can slack flow cause in pipelines?

HYDRAULIC GRADE LINE (HGL)

Hydraulic grade line

Figure 3: Definitions used in slurry pipeline engineering

Slack flow section

Figure 1: Representation of slack flow

Figure 2: No slack flow

Figure 3: Slack flow occurs when slurry pushes water down

Figure 5: Over-pressure occurs when water pushes slurry down

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