Selecting a slurry pump usually requires more information than selecting a standard water pump.

A slurry pump must handle both the required hydraulic duty and the characteristics of the solids being transported. Flow and head are important, but slurry density, solids concentration, particle size, material characteristics, pipeline conditions and operating requirements can also influence the recommended pump.

When contacting a slurry pump manufacturer, providing complete operating data from the beginning can make the selection process more efficient and reduce unnecessary back-and-forth communication.

You do not need to know the exact pump model before sending an inquiry. In fact, that is often what the selection process is intended to determine.

What you should provide is the best available information about the application.

This guide explains the main data a manufacturer needs before recommending a suitable slurry pump.

Why Does a Slurry Pump Manufacturer Need So Much Information?

A request such as:

“I need a 6-inch slurry pump.”

provides very limited information.

The discharge size alone does not tell the manufacturer:

• how much slurry must be pumped;
• how high or how far it must be transported;
• how abrasive the solids are;
• whether the particles are fine or coarse;
• how concentrated the slurry is;
• whether the pump will operate continuously;
• or what materials may be suitable.

Two projects can use pumps with similar connection sizes while having very different operating requirements.

A useful slurry pump inquiry should therefore describe the duty rather than simply request a pump size.

The following information provides a practical starting point.

1. Required Flow Rate

The first basic parameter is the required slurry pump flow rate.

Flow rate describes the volume of slurry that needs to be transported over a given period.

Common units include:

• m³/h;
• L/s;
• GPM.

When possible, provide the normal operating flow rather than only the maximum possible value.

For example:

Required flow: 350 m³/h

is much more useful than:

Need a large slurry pump.

If the process has a normal operating range, provide that as well.

For example:

Normal flow: 300–350 m³/h
Maximum flow: 380 m³/h

This helps the manufacturer understand the expected duty range instead of evaluating only one isolated point.

2. Required Head

Flow alone is not enough.

The manufacturer also needs to know the required pump head.

Slurry pump head represents the energy the pump must provide to move the slurry through the system.

If the required total dynamic head is already known, provide it directly.

For example:

Flow: 350 m³/h
Total head: 42 m

Flow rate and pump head describe different parts of the hydraulic duty. See high head vs high flow slurry pump for a practical explanation of how these two requirements differ.

If head has not yet been calculated, provide the information needed to evaluate the system, including:

• suction level;
• discharge elevation;
• pipeline length;
• pipe diameter;
• fittings and valves;
• and discharge conditions.

Simply stating that slurry needs to travel “500 meters” does not necessarily mean the pump requires 500 meters of head.

Distance and head are different parameters.

3. Slurry Density

The next important parameter is slurry density.

Density affects pump performance and power requirements and helps characterize the mixture being transported.

Provide the actual operating density if available.

For example:

Slurry density: 1.35 t/m³

or provide the units used by your plant or engineering team.

If density varies significantly during operation, it is useful to provide both normal and expected maximum values.

Do not estimate a value simply to complete the inquiry form. If the data are not yet available, identify them as unknown.

4. Solids Concentration

Density and solids concentration are related, but they are not the same information.

Where available, provide the solids concentration and specify how it is expressed.

For example:

• solids concentration by weight;
• solids concentration by volume.

This information helps the manufacturer understand the solids loading passing through the pump.

A slurry containing a relatively low amount of solids may behave differently from a highly concentrated mineral slurry even when other operating parameters are similar.

If concentration varies with process conditions, provide the expected range.

5. Particle Size Distribution

Particle size is particularly important for slurry pump selection.

Rather than providing only:

“Fine slurry”

or

“Large particles,”

send measured particle information whenever available.

Useful data can include:

• typical particle size;
• D50;
• D80;
• particle-size distribution;
• maximum expected particle size.

The maximum particle size is important when evaluating solids passage, while the overall distribution provides a better understanding of the slurry than a single number.

For a more detailed explanation, see how particle size affects slurry pump selection.

If laboratory or process data are available, they can be sent together with the inquiry.

6. Type and Characteristics of the Solids

Particle size alone does not describe how abrasive the slurry may be.

Tell the manufacturer what solids are being pumped.

Examples might include:

• copper ore;
• gold ore;
• iron ore;
• coal;
• sand;
• tailings;
• mineral concentrate;
• limestone;
• ash;
• or other process solids.

Where known, also provide information about:

• particle hardness;
• particle shape;
• abrasiveness;
• and any unusual solid characteristics.

Hard, angular mineral particles can create very different wear conditions from softer or more rounded particles.

This information is particularly important when evaluating wet-end materials.

7. Slurry Chemistry and pH

Some applications involve more than mechanical abrasion.

If the slurry is acidic, alkaline or contains chemicals that may affect wet-end materials, provide this information before pump selection.

Useful information can include:

• pH;
• chemical composition where relevant;
• chloride or other corrosive constituents where known;
• process additives;
• and slurry temperature.

This helps identify whether corrosion resistance needs to be considered together with abrasion resistance.

Do not assume that a material suitable for an abrasive slurry is automatically suitable for an abrasive and corrosive slurry.

8. Application and Process Position

Tell the manufacturer where the pump will be used.

For example:

• mill discharge;
• cyclone feed;
• flotation;
• tailings transfer;
• thickener underflow;
• mine dewatering with solids;
• sand transport;
• dredging;
• or another process duty.

A mining slurry pump used for mill discharge may face different requirements from a pump transferring tailings or handling process water containing relatively low solids.

Providing the process position gives context to the numerical data and can help identify operating conditions that might otherwise be overlooked.

9. Pipeline Information

The pump operates as part of a system, so pipeline information is important.

If the total dynamic head is not already established, provide:

• total pipeline length;
• internal pipe diameter;
• vertical elevation difference;
• number and type of major fittings;
• valve information;
• suction arrangement;
• discharge arrangement.

A simple sketch can be extremely useful.

It does not need to be a finished engineering drawing.

A basic diagram showing:

suction point → pump → pipeline → elevation → discharge point

can help the manufacturer understand the system more quickly.

For more complex projects, a proper piping or process drawing may be appropriate.

10. Suction Conditions

The suction side of the system should not be ignored.

Tell the manufacturer whether the pump will operate with:

• flooded suction;
• suction lift;
• tank discharge;
• sump installation;
• or another arrangement.

Where applicable, provide:

• liquid level;
• suction pipe length;
• suction pipe diameter;
• elevation difference;
• and expected variation in level.

Suction conditions can affect pump performance and should be evaluated before final selection.

11. Operating Hours and Duty Cycle

A pump operating occasionally does not experience the same cumulative duty as a pump running continuously.

Provide the expected operating schedule.

For example:

8 hours/day

or:

24 hours/day continuous operation

Also mention whether the pump is:

• continuous duty;
• intermittent duty;
• standby equipment;
• or expected to experience frequent starts and stops.

Operating hours are particularly relevant when evaluating wear expectations, maintenance planning and spare-part requirements.

12. Drive and Power Requirements

If the project has specific drive requirements, include them.

Useful information may include:

• electric motor;
• diesel engine;
• belt drive;
• direct coupling;
• variable-frequency drive;
• available voltage;
• frequency;
• and site power standard.

For electric motors, provide the required voltage and frequency if already known.

For example:

380 V / 50 Hz

or:

460 V / 60 Hz

Do not assume that the manufacturer will automatically know the electrical standard required for the project location.

13. Installation Requirements

Installation conditions can affect the appropriate pump configuration.

Tell the manufacturer whether you require a:

• horizontal pump;
• vertical sump pump;
• fixed installation;
• skid-mounted unit;
• or another configuration.

If you are unsure which design is appropriate, describe the installation instead of guessing the pump type.

For example:

“The pump will be installed beside a process tank with flooded suction.”

This information may be more useful than selecting a pump category without sufficient engineering data.

You can review available slurry pump products before submitting the duty information.

14. Existing Pump Information, If This Is a Replacement

If the inquiry concerns replacement of an existing pump, provide as much information about the current unit as possible.

Useful information includes:

• existing pump model;
• operating flow;
• operating head;
• motor power;
• speed;
• impeller diameter;
• installation dimensions;
• connection sizes;
• photos;
• performance problems;
• component service life.

Also explain why the existing pump is being replaced.

For example:

• insufficient capacity;
• excessive wear;
• frequent blockage;
• unstable operation;
• difficult maintenance;
• or planned capacity expansion.

The existing model number alone does not describe whether the current pump is actually suitable for the duty.

15. Tell the Manufacturer What Problem You Are Trying to Solve

This is one of the most useful pieces of information and one of the most frequently omitted.

Do not send only technical numbers.

Explain the objective.

For example:

“Our current wet-end parts are wearing faster than expected.”

or:

“Plant throughput will increase from 250 to 320 m³/h.”

or:

“We need to transport coarse tailings through a longer discharge pipeline.”

This gives the manufacturer context for the selection.

A technically correct pump for the old operating condition may not solve the new problem.

What If You Do Not Have All the Data?

You do not need to delay every inquiry until every parameter has been measured.

Send the information you have and clearly identify what is:

confirmed / estimated / unknown.

For example:

This is much better than filling missing fields with guessed values.

The manufacturer can then identify which missing parameters are critical before final selection.

Slurry Pump Selection Information Checklist

Before sending your RFQ or technical inquiry, use this checklist.

Hydraulic Duty

• Required flow rate
• Required head
• Suction conditions
• Discharge conditions

Slurry Data

• Slurry density
• Solids concentration
• Particle-size distribution
• Maximum particle size
• Solids type
• Particle hardness if known
• pH and chemistry if relevant
• Temperature

System Data

• Pipeline length
• Pipe diameter
• Elevation difference
• Major fittings and valves
• Installation arrangement

Operating Requirements

• Operating hours
• Duty cycle
• Motor or drive requirements
• Voltage and frequency
• Site conditions

Existing Equipment

• Current pump model
• Motor power
• Pump speed
• Current performance
• Wear history
• Photos and drawings

Providing these details creates a much stronger technical basis for pump selection.

What Information Is Most Important If You Need a Quick Inquiry?

If time is limited, start with these eight items:

1. Required flow
2. Required head or pipeline information
3. Slurry density
4. Solids concentration
5. Particle size and maximum particle size
6. Type of solids
7. Application
8. Operating hours

Then add drawings, chemistry, motor requirements and existing pump information where relevant.

A short but technically useful inquiry is better than a long message containing little operating data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Slurry Pump Be Selected From Flow Rate Alone?

👉No. Flow is only one part of the duty. Head, slurry properties, particle size, solids concentration, system conditions and other factors may affect selection.

Do I Need to Know the Pump Model Before Contacting the Manufacturer?

👉No. If you provide the operating requirements and slurry data, the manufacturer can evaluate suitable pump options.

What If I Do Not Know the Required Pump Head?

👉Provide pipeline length, diameter, elevation difference, suction conditions, discharge conditions and other available system information so the head requirement can be evaluated.

Why Does the Manufacturer Need Particle Size?

👉Particle size can affect solids passage, impeller selection, wear characteristics and the risk of blockage.

Should I Send Photos of My Existing Pump?

👉Yes, especially for replacement projects. Model information, nameplate photos, installation photos and dimensional drawings can provide useful context.

Can I Send a Process Datasheet or Drawing?

👉Yes. A pump datasheet, process information, pipeline sketch or relevant engineering drawing can make technical communication more efficient.

Better Input Data Leads to Better Pump Selection

A good slurry pump inquiry does not need to begin with a specific model.

It should begin with the actual operating requirement.

The most useful slurry pump selection information combines:

flow + head + slurry density + solids concentration + particle size + solids characteristics + pipeline + operating conditions.

The more accurately these conditions are described, the easier it is to evaluate an appropriate pump configuration, wet-end material, operating speed and drive arrangement.

You can first review our slurry pump products to understand the available pump categories.

If you already have the basic duty information, contact Longteng Pump and send your operating data, existing pump information, photos or drawings for technical review.