Unmatched Durability in Harsh Slurry: Pexgol Outperforms Steel
Trial Demonstrates Superior Wear Resistance in Sea Water + Ash Slurry Conditions.
Case Study Nº
182
Customer
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Working Conditions
Pexgol Pipes
Application
Lenght
Categories
The Challenge
In a coastal mining facility, ash slurry—created by mixing sea water with 30% ash solids—was being transported at a flow rate of 500–550 m³/h. The abrasive nature of the slurry, combined with particle sizes ranging from 110 µm to 450 µm (and occasional lumps up to 50 mm), caused accelerated wear in the steel pipes traditionally used on site.
Steel pipelines suffered consistent erosion, requiring frequent maintenance and patchwork to remain operational. With ambient temperatures between 45–52°C and system pressure not exceeding 1.5 bar, the environment added thermal stress but remained within moderate pressure limits.
The client needed a more durable solution that would extend maintenance cycles and reduce operational interruptions.
The Solution
A Pexgol pipe with 280 mm OD and 200 mm ID was installed as a trial section for ash slurry transport. The trial, conducted between April 2023 and December 31, 2023, involved a 6-meter pipe segment operating under full system conditions.
After 9 months of continuous operation, the pipe was returned to the supplier’s warehouse for post-trial inspection. Dimensional analysis confirmed almost no erosion. Measurable wear was not observed on the internal diameter.
Compared to the previously used steel pipes—which showed visible wear and required repeated repair—the Pexgol solution offered unprecedented durability. According to the client’s certification and field data, over 85% of the solid particles in the slurry were under 100 microns, which are typically the most erosive. Even under these harsh slurry conditions, Pexgol maintained its structural integrity.
This successful trial validated Pexgol as a high-performance alternative to steel, capable of handling high-solids, abrasive slurries with minimal maintenance and downtime.
