Care must be taken to avoid many bends in
the pipelines; otherwise, they will tend
to plug. Pipeline velocities or
bagasse/water slurries should be about
2.5 m/s and should not be lower than
1.75 m/s. For short lines, the velocity
may be as high as 4.0 m/s. As the
bagasse slurry dewaters readily. flow
control by valves can lead to plugging of
the pipelines; variable speed pumps
should be used. Pipelines and pumps must
be of stainless steel.
Large centrifugal traps can be installed
both in the bagasse slurry transport line
and in the return transport water line to
remove stones and dirt, and pumps can be
protected against large stones by gravity
traps ahead of pump suctions. However.
regardless of precautions taken. wear on
pumps in hydraulic systems is high and
standby pumps are required.
An alternative to using pipes is to build
up the piles by an overhead flume over
the length of the storage area at a
height of 15 to 18 m. The bagasse slurry
is pumped from the slushers to the flume
which is fitted with a series of gates
from which the bagasse slurry is
discharged onto the appropriate storage
area.
The flume has a slope of 1.5 to 2% and is
usually equipped with gravity stone
traps.