Multiple Particles in Liquids - INTRODUCTION

SEDIMENTATION

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - INTRODUCTION

Thickening and Clarification are widely used in the CMPI

to separate solids from a solids-liquid suspension

Thickening - objective is to obtain a thick slurry (sludge) from a dilute

suspension
Clarification objective is to get a clear liquid from a suspension

Continuous thickener

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - INTRODUCTION

To design thickeners/clarifiers, we need to know the settling

characteristics of concentrated suspensions

We have examined the behavoir of single (non-interacting) particles in

a fluid

Need to know how multiple particles behave in a fluid

In practice, multiple particle systems are too complex to enable exact

analysis

Hence, need to combine theory with some practical measurements

(laboratory data), to obtain realistic design information

Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - SCOPE

Settling of a suspension (multiple particles)
Develop expression for hindered settling velocity by adapting theory
developed for single particles
Batch settling
Settling flux as a function of suspension concentration
Sharp interfaces in sedimentation
Batch settling test
Height-time curve and flux plot
Continuous settling
Settling of particles in a flowing liquid
Real thickener with upflow and downflow
Critically loaded thickener
Underloaded thickener
Overloaded thickener
Alternative total flux plot

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Hindered settling

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Hindered settling

Will settling rates in a concentrated suspension differ from

that in a very dilute suspension ?
the presence of a large number of fine particles will hinder the fall of

the larger particles

the presence of fine particles may change the effective viscosity of the
fluid phase
small particles will be dragged down more quickly than under free
falling conditions

Hence, settling rates WILL be affected

In general, hindered settling occurs when the particle concentration is

greater than about 1% by mass

the hindered settling velocity is a strong function of concentration

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Some definitions

[Chalkboard break differences between solutions and suspensions]

Suspension concentration C
volume fraction occupied by particles
=

Suspension voidage

Volume fraction occupied by voids (fluid)

= = 1

Effective suspension viscosity e

=

volume of suspension = V
volume of fluid = Vf
volume of particles = Vp

Effective average suspension density ave

= + 1
Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Prove this !!!

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Hindered settling velocity

Settling of a single particle in Stokes law region (unhindered):

Terminal velocity
2
=
18

Settling of a suspension in Stokes law region (uniformly sized

particles )

(applicable to most real circumstances, since hindered settling velocities are low):

Force balance on particle reaching terminal velocity

= 0
3
3 = 0
6
UrelT is the hindered settling velocity relative to the fluid.
Hence, hindered settling velocity UrelT
=

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Prove this !!!

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Hindered settling velocity

UT is the unhindered settling velocity of a particle

UrelT is the hindered settling velocity of a particle in a suspension

(uniformly sized particles)

UrelT is related to UT via the voidage

If we can determine we can determine UrelT from UT and

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids Further definitions

When the concentration of particles is high, the cross-sectional area available
for fluid flow through the vessel is reduced. Various velocities can be defined.
We need to be very clear on which velocities we are referring to:

Area definitions

A = vessel cross-sectional area

Af = flow area occupied by fluid
=

Ap = flow area occupied by particles

= 1

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids Further definitions

Flowrate and velocity definitions

Qf = fluid volumetric flow rate
Qp = particles volumetric flow rate
Ufs = superficial fluid velocity
Ups = superficial particle velocity

Uf = actual (interstitial) velocity of fluid (relative to tube wall)

= =

Up = actual velocity of particles (relative to tube wall)

= =

= 1

UrelT = hindered settling velocity (relative to fluid)

=
Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - .

Flow relations
= = =

= = = 1

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Batch settling

Batch settling:

No net flow through vessel:

+ = 0

1 + = 0

Hindered settling velocity (relative to fluid):

= =

Hindered settling velocity (relative to wall):

=
Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - .

Relating UP to UT:

= 2

f() = effective viscosity function

For a suspension of uniform spheres with particle volume

fraction less than 0.1 [C < 0.1]:

= 2.5 giving: = .

For Stokes law region [Richardson and Zaki (1954)]:

Rep < 0.3
= 2.65 giving: = .

For Newtons law region [Richardson and Zaki (1954)]:

Rep > 500
= 0.4 giving: = .
Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - .

Relating UP to UT (Richardson and Zaki, 1954)

=

Correlation to determine value of exponent n over entire range of

Reynolds numbers (Richardson and Kahn, 1989):

0.27
4.8

= 0.043 0.57 1 2.4

2.4

D = vessel diameter

Archimedes number:

3
=
2

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Summary thus far

UT = terminal velocity of single particle (dilute suspensions)

UrelT = hindered settling velocity (concentrated suspensions)

For batch settling:

Qp = - Qf

= =

leads to
Up = particle settling velocity relative to vessel wall
=
Have various correlations for n
hence can calculate Up for any Rep
Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Summary thus far

Example:
A suspension of uniformly sized spheres in water (diameter 150m,
density 1140 kg/m3 ) has a solids concentration of 25% by volume.
Determine the hindered settling velocity of the particles in batch settling
(relative to the vessel wall). [4.5 x 10-4 m/s]

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Particle Fluxes

Thickeners/clarifiers are usually designed on the basis of solids(particle)

flux

Flux = flowrate/total flow area

mass flux = mass flowrate/flow area = kg/(m2.s)
volumetric flux = volumetric flowrate/ flow area = m3/(m2.s)
(volumetric flux = superficial velocity)

Particle(solids) volumetric settling flux

S = Qp/A
= particle velocity relative to vessel x particle concentration
= Up (1-) = Up C
= Ups

Ups = volumetric particle settling flux

= =
Dept of Process Engineering
Stellenbosch University

Qp

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Particle flux plot

What should a graph of Ups vs C look like ? (recall: C=1-)

Ups = volumetric particle settling flux

= 1 = 1

Ups/UT = dimensionless particle settling flux:

= 1

Maximum at (first derivative = 0):

+1

Inflection point at (second derivate = 0):

1
+1

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Particle flux plot

Dimensionless particle flux plot

e.g. for n = 4.65 (Stokes law region; Rep < 0.3):

Figure from
Rhodes (2008)

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Particle flux plot

Value of flux plots

indicates the settling flux at any particular particle concentration
provides other information, e.g. the velocity of interfaces (will be

derived now)
is ultimately used in the design of thickeners (to be
demonstrated later)

Figure from
Rhodes (2008)

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - Interfaces in settling

Interface = discontinuity in concentration

Velocity of an interface:

Mass balance over interface:

Above interface (1)

Particles of concentration C1 travelling at Up1 relative to wall

Volumetric flow rate of particles entering interface:
( )1

Uint = interface velocity

Below interface (2)

Particles of concentration C2 travelling at Up2 relative to wall
Volumetric flow rate of particles leaving interface:
(2 )2
Figure from
Rhodes (2008)

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316

22

Multiple Particles in Liquids - .

Mass balance over interface:

Across interface
( )1 = ( )2

Interface velocity
=

1 2
1 2

In terms of superficial velocities:

=

1 2
1 2

As C 0:
=

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Figure from
Rhodes (2008)

Particle Technology 316

Multiple Particles in Liquids - .

Flux plot (Ups versus C)

Slope of a chord joining two points at C1 and C2 is the velocity of an

interface between C1 and C2

Figure from
Rhodes (2008)

Dept of Process Engineering

Stellenbosch University

Particle Technology 316