The Determination of Solid Particles' Impact Conditions by Numerical Analysis in a Slurry Erosion Testing Apparatus

Abstract

Slurry erosion rates largely depend on the conditions of solid particles' impact such as the impact frequency, velocity and angle. Even a slight difference between conditions in the testing apparatus and those in an industrial machine will cause disagreement in the damage mechanism and the test results of candidate materials in the apparatus will not agree with their performance in the field even in a qualitative comparison. The only resort is to conduct material tests under clear impact conditions and to estimate their performance in the field by comparing the impact conditions of the spheres. In this study, the numerical analysis was conducted on the particles' impact conditions in a jet-in-slit apparatus, and the results were compared with those which were determined by experimental measurements such as the size, shape and number of craters formed on the specimen surface. Lastly, the erosion rates estimated on the thus determined impact conditions were compared with experimental measurements to obtain an excellent level of agreement. In conclusion, the solid particles' impact conditions in the jet-in-slit testing apparatus were clearly determined.