On the pumping of wood chips through a four‐inch aluminum pipe‐line

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Abstract
This paper summarizes an investigation into the behavior of a wood‐chip suspension in a 4‐inch diameter aluminum pipe, 400 feet in length, when pumped under differing flow rates and concentrations, and evaluates the modes of conveyance and the friction losses therein.The following points are brought out by the investigation. The mode of conveyance is essentially one of a sliding bed, the depth of which is related directly to the concentration. There is little evidence of any homogeneity of flow, despite the fact that the solids conveyed have a specific gravity very close to the conveying medium, water. The friction losses are considerably higher than those of water alone, again despite the fact that the mixture specific gravity is very close to that of water. These relatively high losses are attributed to the size, shape and interlocking properties peculiar to wood‐chips. The wood chips are easiest to handle when they are almost fully saturated. If suitable precautions are taken the possibilities of blockages can be minimized or completely eliminated. A rough estimate of pumping costs indicates that conveyance by pipe‐line can be competitive with other means of over‐land transport.

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