gauge pressure 13?

Question

What gauge pressure must a machine produce in order to suck mud of density 1500 kg/m3 up a tube by a height of 3.01 m?

Answer 1

P=gph
P- pressure
g- acceleration due to gravity
p - density
h - height

P= 9.81x1500x3.01=
P=44200 N/m^2 =44200 PA

Answer 2

Vacuum would be the better question to ask. If you are using a vortex type "pump" where another medium is injected just above the entrance point of the material to be moved, such as what some gold miners use in streams, then the rate of flow of the working medium that produces the desired suction is the greater concern. Off hand, I would say that a vacuum of at least 20 inches od mercury would give the desired results. The combination of vacuum at the point the suction tube is pressed into the mud, as well as atmospheric pressure acting on the mud are going to be primary factors as to what amount of effort is needed to move the material. Flow rate, and vacuum are the primary points of interest, not pressure. The only way that pressure would be of interest is in trying to move the material up a tube by adding pressure to the surface of it. In a closed container, as little as 15 psi gauge would be enough, IF and only IF the working surface was large enough. In this consideration, the surface of the material, mud as stated is acting as a piston. The surface area in square feet, multiplied by the air pressure is going to give a net hydraulic pressure acting on the mud to move it.