Pump terms and part names · a plain-words glossary (26 items)

A pump built specifically to handle “dirty water carrying solid particles”—ore pulp, coal slurry, ash water and aggregate mud all fall into this class. Its wet-end parts are made extra thick and wear-resistant; an ordinary clean water pump would wear through in no time on such duty.

The slurry pumps on this site are grouped by type into AH, HH, M, L, SP(R), G(GH), AF, H/SH, ZGB and other series, selectable by duty.

The most versatile heavy-duty slurry pump from China Slurry Pump, with a thick shell, thick wear parts and a heavy-duty frame, suited to slurries that are “both abrasive and dense”. It is used in most mineral processing, coal washing and power plant ash applications.

The same series includes the AHR rubber-lined version with rubber wet-end parts, suited to strongly corrosive, fine-particle slurries.

The “high-head” version of the AH, built to lift slurry higher and further, with single-stage heads above 90 metres.

When head falls short, consider the HH or multi-stage series operation first instead of simply raising the speed.

Medium head and high flow, with performance and size between the heavy-duty AH and the light-duty L, suited to routine conveying of medium-density slurries.

Compact, light and fast-running, it handles fine-particle, low-density “light duty” more economically. Do not put it on coarse, severely abrasive duty.

LR / MR are rubber-lined light-duty models suited to corrosive, fine-particle duties.

Vertical construction with the casing submerged directly in the pond, pit or tank—no priming, no suction lift line—ideal for drawing slurry from the bottom of sumps.

Extended-shaft models (with L) suit deeper sumps; the line shaft bearings require flush water.

A pump built specifically to pass “large particles”, with a wide flow passage. Use it when particles are too big for an ordinary slurry pump; also known as a sand pump or TBM pump. The GH is the high-head version.

The first selection criterion is the maximum particle diameter—always state it up front.

Conveys froth-laden slurries in flotation circuits, breaking up the froth before transporting it; it also runs normally when the feed is insufficient.

A series commonly used on heavy duties such as power plant ash and filter press feed, available in sizes from small to large bore.

Wet-end parts in rubber instead of metal. They resist fine-particle wear and acid/alkali corrosion, but are vulnerable to cutting by sharp, large particles.

Wet-end parts of rubber-lined pumps are not interchangeable with those of metal pumps—specify the R type when ordering.

The “wheel” inside the pump that spins fast and flings the slurry outward—the fastest-wearing and most frequently replaced part.

Typical code example: E4147; common materials are A05, A07, A49 and R55.

The wear-resistant shell wrapped around the impeller that collects the flung slurry and guides it to the discharge. It wears second only to the impeller.

The same model may use separate “front / rear volute liners”—be specific when ordering.

The two wear plates sandwiching the impeller, which together with it form the slurry passage. Once the clearance wears large, flow and head drop noticeably.

The throat bush and frame plate liner cost less than the volute liner and are highly cost-effective preventive-replacement items.

A “protective sleeve” on the shaft: the sleeve wears, not the shaft, and replacing a sleeve is far cheaper than replacing a shaft.

A small ring that feeds clean water to the shaft seal and flushes particles away, keeping grit out of the sealing faces and off the shaft.

A cover plate between the frame plate liner and the shaft seal that works with the expeller to lower the pressure at the shaft seal, making the seal last longer.

A set of small vanes on the back of the impeller. As it spins, it “pushes the slurry back”, achieving a seal without shaft seal water.

With an expeller seal, power consumption rises by roughly 5% of the rated power, and grease must be added periodically through the oil cup.

The box that holds the packing and the cover that compresses it—the most common shaft-seal arrangement, requiring shaft seal water.

Shaft seal water pressure ≈ pump discharge pressure + 35 kPa (0.35 kg/cm²).

Where the shaft passes out of the casing, leakage must be controlled; three methods exist: gland packing (most common, cheap), expeller seal (no seal water needed) and mechanical seal (lowest leakage, highest cost).

The frame is the “base section” that supports the pump shaft and houses the bearings; the bearing assembly is the bearing and lubrication portion inside. The frame designation (e.g. C/D/E) determines the shaft and bearing sizes.

In the model 3/2C-AH, the C is the frame designation.

Each part carries its drawing number, e.g. impeller E4147. When requesting repairs or quotations, stating “model + part code + material” minimises ordering errors.

Photos of the old parts are also acceptable—we will verify the codes against the parts books.

The code indicating the wet-end material. A05 high-chrome alloy is the most common, wear- and impact-resistant; A07 is even more wear-resistant; A49 resists both wear and acid; R55 is rubber, resisting fine particles and corrosion.

See “Parts Center → Wet-end material code cross-reference”.

It reads: 3-inch suction, 2-inch discharge, C-type frame, AH series slurry pump. Once you can read this, you know the bore and structural size of the pump.

Designations vary slightly between series; each model page includes a “Model Nomenclature” section.

Flow = how many cubic metres of slurry are delivered per hour (m³/h); head = how high the slurry can be lifted (m). These two figures, together with slurry concentration and specific gravity, are the key inputs for pump selection.

An indicator of the pump inlet’s ability to resist “starvation”. The larger the value, the less likely cavitation becomes; ensure the available NPSH exceeds the required NPSH, otherwise the pump will lose prime and the impeller will be damaged.

How many revolutions the pump shaft makes per minute (r/min). Higher speed gives more flow and head but faster wear, so do not force head by raising speed.