Nozzle for low pressure flash tanks for ore slurry

This invention relates to the release of pressure from oxidized ore slurry in an autoclave circuit. In particular, the invention relates to the design of a nozzle system through which ore slurry passes into slurry flash tanks. A wear-resistant flash tank pressure let down nozzle for use in passing an ore slurry into an ore slurry flash tank to release steam from the slurry and reduce the pressure of the slurry. The nozzle has an expansion cone flaring toward the discharge end of the nozzle. The cross-sectional area of a choke section of the nozzle and the exit diameter of the expansion cone are selected to establish a relationship between pressure upstream of the nozzle and pressure in the flash tank so that underflashing, overflashing, and shock waves inside the flash tank are minimized.