Energy losses of ice slurry in pipe sudden contractions

The paper presents the results of the experimental research on the ice slurry loss coefficient during its flow through sudden contractions. Experimental studies were conducted using a few of the most common contractions of copper pipes. Six contraction ratios were covered: 0.500, 0.615, 0.650, 0.769, 0.800 and 0.813. In the experimental research, the mass fraction of solid particles in the slurry ranged from 20 to 30 (20%, 25%, 30%). Research results allow for determining the theoretical correlation for the ice slurry, in order to calculate the loss coefficient in contractions during laminar flow. The results of experimental investigations also confirmed that the loss coefficients in contractions in turbulent (transitional) flow of the ice slurry are the same as in the case of Newtonian liquids. The paper also presents original theoretical correlation for calculating the kinetic energy correction factor in the laminar range flow of liquid in the Bingham model. This correlation is used in this work for calculation of the ice slurry flow through contractions.