RHEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE TRANSPORT BEHA VIOR OF CARBONATATION SLUDGE

Sugar factories produce 5-8 kg/100 kg beet of carbonatation sludge. De pending on the filtering plant, this sludge occurs as a fluid system ( less than or equal to 60% dry substance) or in solid form. The studies reported here serve to characterize the flow behaviour of this waste product as a plastic non-Newtonian medium. The paper describes the the oretical principles of theology, the conduct of the measurements and e valuation of the experiments. Flow curves for dry substance contents o f 50%, 55% and 60% in a temperature range of 20 to 70 degrees C were e stablished. Sludge throughput equations were derived for ranges of pra ctical importance and a transport optimization exercise conducted for what can also be described as a Cassonian medium. The indicated method of analysis can also be applied in modified form to the hydraulic tra nsport of sludge from settling tanks.