Friction Factor Reduction by Addition of a Surfactant in the Transport' of a Water/Particle Slurry in a Pipe

This experimental study examines pressure drop due to pipe friction when a surfactant is added to (a) flowing water and (b) flowing water/particle slurry for the purposes of reducing power supply when transporting slurry by pump, and improving the capacity of heat transportation fluid. The following results were obtained. Pressure drop in the case of (b) in which mixed particles account for about 12% of the fluid volume 25∼50% more than in the case of (a). When transporting the water/particle slurry containing the surfactant, it is advisable to reduce the velocity and control the Re number to approximately 3×104. If particles included water/particles slurry are replaced by microcapsules that have the thermal energy storage effect due to their latent heat the density of heat transportation of this slurry becomes twice that of water, and pump power is reduced to half that of water.