Development of the hydrotransport boost pump. Open file report September 1981-December 1984

A ventilated helical boost pump was developed that can handle varying flow rates and/or solids concentrations while operating at a single rotational speed and without computer assisted feedback controls. The boost pump developed and briefly tested during this program was designed to accomodate flows suitable for a 3-in-diam pipeline. The boost pump's ventilated design provides the automatic pressure regulation needed to meet the system's requirements for supporting transient pipeline flow. A maximum discharge pressure of 120 psi was achieved at an operating speed of 3,000 rpm. The boost pump efficiency at maximum discharge pressure was 65 pct. Coal flow rates of up to 1,000 lb/min were successfully processed with a nonshrouded single vane impeller. Further redesign is required to develop a shrouded impeller that can be combined with stationary wear rings to minimize impeller wear.