SEDIMENTATION

JUHLIAN V. SANTOS

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture

Cebu Institute of Technology University, N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

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1. Introduction

The main objective of the experiment is to determine the effects of initial

concentration and initial height on sedimentation characteristics. The initial mass
settling rate is plotted against concentration and the settling velocity against the limiting
concentration.

Sedimentation involves the separation of a suspension into a clear supernatant

fluid and a dense slurry containing a higher concentration of solid (Brown). Under the
influence of gravity, the particles in a noncolloidal suspension of a solid in a liquid will
eventually settle out.

If the particle is settling in a gravitational field, it rapidly reaches its terminal

falling velocity when the frictional force has become equal to the gravitational force
(Coulson, Volume 2). The physical processes involved in sedimentation can be
observed using a sedimentation studies apparatus, which can be seen in Figure B.1.

As soon as the sedimentation process starts, all the particles begin to settle and
are assumed to rapidly approach the terminal velocities under hindered-settling
conditions (Foust). Several zones of concentration will be established, as shown in
Figure C.1.

All the particles initially settle by free settling in zone B. The particles in zone
B settle at a uniform rate at the start, and a clear liquid zone A appears (Geankoplis).
The height z drops at a constant rate. Zone D gradually appears. It is where the settled
particles at the bottom can be found. The transition layer is zone C, whose solids content
varies from that in zone B to that in zone D. Zones B and C disappear after further
settling (Geankoplis). The critical point
is where the compression first appears. During
compression, liquid is expelled upward from zone D and the thickness of zone D
decreases (Geankoplis).
2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Materials and Apparatuses

Sedimentation apparatus
Mesh or sieve
Sieve shaker
Stopwatch
Beaker
Spatula
Stirring rod
Powder of calcium carbonate

2.2 Methods

2.2.1 Preparation

Powdered calcium carbonate is prepared. Sieving is done using a mesh

in order to obtain a uniform particle size.

2.2.2 Part A

Five one-liter suspensions of calcium carbonate in water are prepared.

The concentrations are 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% by weight, respectively.
Each slurry is placed in sedimentation tubes at the same height. The light in
the sedimentation apparatus is turned on for better readings. The readings of
the interphase are noted at the chosen time intervals. The rise of the sludge
interphase at the base of the cylinder is recorded. A 24-hour was allowed to
elapse for final compaction readings.

2.2.3 Part B

The procedure for part A is repeated. The slurry used is of the same
concentration (4%). The initial height is different for each sedimentation tube.
3. Results

PART A

2% CONCENTRATION
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 470 0.0200
4 310 459.09 37.2725 0.0205
8 180 445.83 33.2288 0.0211
12 32 272.73 20.0608 0.0345
16 27 72.73 2.85813 0.1292
20 25 36.36 0.56800 0.2585
Table 1

4% CONCENTRATION
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 470 0.0400
4 320 461.36 35.3400 0.0407
8 190 429.55 29.9438 0.0438
12 85 286.36 16.7800 0.0657
16 70 136.36 4.1475 0.1379
20 58 113.64 2.7820 0.1654
Table 2

6% CONCENTRATION
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 470 0.0600
4 375 468.18 23.2950 0.0602
8 284 459.09 21.8863 0.0614
12 198 419.05 18.4208 0.0673
16 142 306.82 10.3013 0.0919
20 124 192.86 3.4430 0.1462
Table 3
3. Results (continued
)

PART A

8% CONCENTRATION
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 470 0.0800
4 383 463.64 20.1600 0.0811
8 306 435.71 16.2138 0.0863
12 255 388.1 11.0917 0.0969
16 218 342.86 7.8038 0.1097
20 192 311.9 5.9950 0.1206
Table 4

10% CONCENTRATION
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 470 0.1000
4 430 464.29 8.5725 0.1012
8 409 459.52 6.3150 0.1023
12 380 457.14 6.4283 0.1028
16 350 454.76 6.5475 0.1034
20 327 445.45 5.9225 0.1055
Table 5

PART B

4% CONCENTRATION (HEIGHT 1)
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 480.50 0.0400
5 329.00 461.11 26.4220 0.0417
10 217.00 433.33 21.6330 0.0444
15 112.00 338.89 15.1260 0.0567
20 72.00 177.78 5.2890 0.1081
25 58.00 100.00 1.6800 0.1922
30 49.00 88.89 1.3297 0.2162
35 45.00 61.11 0.4603 0.3145
100 29.00 50.00 0.2100 0.3844
140 29.00 33.33 0.0309 0.5767
Table 6
3. Results (continued
)

PART B

4% CONCENTRATION (HEIGHT 2)
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 454 0.0400
5 268 429.55 32.3100 0.0423
10 132 331.82 19.9820 0.0547
15 64 195.45 8.7633 0.0929
20 50 86.36 1.8180 0.2103
25 42 72.73 1.2292 0.2497
30 40 56.82 0.5607 0.3196
35 38 50.00 0.3429 0.3632
100 26 38.10 0.1210 0.4766
140 26 26.19 00014 0.6934
Table 7

4% CONCENTRATION (HEIGHT 3)
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 427 0.0400
5 259 404.17 29.0340 0.0423
10 142 341.67 19.9670 0.0500
15 58 220.83 10.8553 0.0773
20 44 75.00 1.5500 0.2277
25 38 45.83 0.3132 0.3727
30 37 41.67 0.1557 0.4099
35 35 37.50 0.0714 0.4555
100 24 33.33 0.0933 0.5125
140 24 29.17 0.0369 0.5855
Table 8
3. Results (continued
)

PART B

4% CONCENTRATION (HEIGHT 4)
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 396 0.0400
5 199 354.17 31.0340 0.0447
10 82 227.08 14.5080 0.0698
15 44 120.83 5.1220 0.1311
20 35 58.33 1.1665 0.2716
25 33 45.83 0.5132 0.3456
30 33 41.67 0.2890 0.3801
35 31 37.50 0.1857 0.4224
100 23 33.33 0.1033 0.4752
140 23 29.17 0.0441 0.5430
Table 9

4% CONCENTRATION (HEIGHT 5)
Velocity Concentration
Time (min.) Z (mm) Zi (mm)
(mm/min) (fraction)
0 376 0.0400
5 183 342.31 31.8620 0.0439
10 71 234.62 16.3620 0.0641
15 40 111.54 4.7693 0.1348
20 33 53.85 1.0425 0.2793
25 30 44.44 0.5776 0.3384
30 30 40.74 0.3580 0.3692
35 28 37.04 0.2583 0.0406
100 21 29.63 0.0863 0.5076
140 21 25.93 0.0352 0.5800
Table 10
3. Results (continued
)
3. Results (continued
)
3. Results (continued
)
3. Results (continued
)
3. Results (continued
)
4. Discussion
The ratio of the orifice diameter

5. Conclusion
APPENDIX A

v1 2 p1 v2 2 p2
Equation A.1 + = +
2 2
[3]
Mechanical-Energy Balance Equation

Cv 2 (p1 - p2 )
Equation A.2 v2 =
1 - (D2 D1 )4

[3]
Equation for the Venturi Meter

CvA2 Y
Equation A.3 m= 2 (p1 - p2 ) 1
4
1 - (D2 D1 )

A dimensionless correction factor, Y, is introduced for the measureme

[3]. meter
of compressible flow of gases using a venturi

Co 2 (p1 - p2 )
Equation A.4 v0 =
1 - (Do D1 )4

[3]
Equation for the Orifice Meter

CoAo Y
Equation A.5 m= 2 (p1 - p2 ) 1
1 - (Do D1 )4

A dimensionless correction factor, Y, is introduced for the measureme

[3]. meter
of compressible flow of gases using an orifice

D2 2
Equation A.6 volumetric flow rate (venturi ) [6] =
meter v2
4

Do 2
Equation A.7 volumetric flowrate (orifice ) [6] =
meter vo
4
APPENDIX B

[7]
Figure B.1 Experimental Setup
APPENDIX C

Figure C.1 Plot of C [4]

OrificeVersus Reynolds Number (Theoretical)

SEDIMENTATION ZONES

ZONE A
Clear liquid

ZONE B
Initial concentration

ZONE C
Variable concentration

ZONE D
Settled bed
REFERENCES:

[1] G.G. Brown, D. Kate, A.S. Foust, Unit Operations, John Wiley & Sons, New York,

1950, p.

[2] W.L. McCabe, J.C. Smith, S.P. Harriott, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering,

McGraw-Hill Book Company, Singapore, 1993, p.

[3] Geankoplis, Transport Process & Separation Process Principles, Pearson Education

South Asia Private Limited, 2015, p.

[4] J.M. Coulson, J.F. Richardson, J.R. Backhurst, J.H. Harker, Chemical Engineering

Volume 1: Fluid Flow, Heat Transfer, and Mass Transfer, Pergamon Press, Oxford,

1990, p.

[5] A.S. Foust, L.A. Wenzel, C.W. Clump, L. Maus, L.B. Andersen, Principles of Unit

Operations, John Wiley & Sons, Singapore, 1979, p.

[6] O.T. Zimmerman, I. Lavine, Chemical Engineering Laboratory Equipment, Industrial

Research Service, New Hampshire, 1955, p.

[7] Juphil Lamanilao, (2010). Calibration of Orifice & Venturi Meter. Retrieved January

01, 2017, from http://www.slideshare.net/jeufier/calibration-of-orifice-venturi-meter

[8] (n.d.). Retrieved January 01, 2017, from http://www.engineeringexcelspreadsheets

.com/2011/03/excel-spreadsheets-for-orifice-and-venturi-flow-meter-calculations/

[9] DP Flow Engineering Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved January 02, 2017, from

http://www2.emersonprocess.com/en-US/brands/rosemount/Rosemount-Site-Map/en -

gineering-guides/Pages/chapter-03.aspx