Pressure loss and friction factor in non-Newtonian mine paste backfill: Modelling, loop test and mine field data

The prediction of pressure loss along paste backfill pipeline system requires careful consideration to determine the flowability and pumping requirement. Several friction factor correlations are available in literature to predict pressure loss for paste: however, none of them was specifically developed and validated for mine paste backfill. This study addresses the selection of friction factor correlations in hydraulic model to be tested and validated against pressure loss from laboratory scale pipe loop measurement, in-situ mine field data and computational fluid dynamics model. Statistical analysis was performed to quantify the errors. The results suggest that Swamee and Aggarwal friction factor correlation can accurately predict the pressure loss along the paste backfill pipeline in the mine field within 5% errors. Crown Copyright (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.