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AAC WORLDWIDE %u2022 2.2025 PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY 59ration section (Fig. 1), transportation in the slurry storage section (Fig. 2), and transportation in the cutting section (Fig. 3).Selection of slurry transfer pumpsOperating conditions of slurry pumpsSlurry pumps account for a relatively small proportion in the total investment of the production line. However, they are frequently in use and have a significant impact on the daily operation and functionality of the production line. Therefore, when selecting slurry pumps, less consideration is given to the equipment purchase cost, and more emphasis is placed on the operational stability of the equipment and the convenience that comes with low maintenance.Thus, for the transportation of slurry in the slurry preparation section, the casting section, the cutting section, the autoclave curing section, and the conveyance of wastewater from the flushing process, vertical pumps are chosen preferentially. This is because sunken-type slurry tanks are installed to collect the slurry and wastewater, giving vertical pumps a natural advantage. In the slurry storage section, since the storage tanks are set above ground level, relatively speaking, using horizontal pumps is a both simple and clean solution.In the past, horizontal pumps were more commonly selected abroad. Firstly, the quality of foreign horizontal pumps was stable. Secondly, slurry transportation abroad mostly adopted a continuous mode, which caused relatively little problems when using horizontal pumps. Thirdly, horizontal pumps were used for enclosed transportation, providing a better working environment.As mentioned above, using a horizontal pump in the slurry storage section is the optimal choice (Fig. 2 b). When using a horizontal pump in the slurry preparation section (or similar application scenarios), a sunken working surface must be constructed, which increases the civil construction cost. Moreover, it is not conducive to maintenance, safety, and hygiene (Fig. 1 b). When using a horizontal pump in the cutting section, since the waste slurry tank of the cutting machine is already below - 2.500 m, and when equipped with a slurry tank with a height of about 4 m, the installation surface of the pump will reach - 6.500 m or even lower. For example, in the originalHebel and Weihan Type I, the waste slurry transferpumps were installed in the basement on the secondunderground floor. Obviously, the foundation construction cost is relatively high, and the position ofthe pump is very unfavorable for maintenance, safety, and hygiene. However, considering the unity ofequipment configuration, this practice remained popular for a long time.Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the arrangement of slurry pumps in the raw material preparation section.a) Equipped with a vertical pump. b) Equipped with a horizontal pump.