Chemical and Food Engineering Department

ChE-421 -Separation Process and Introduction to Particle Technology

Exercise No. ____

CENTRIFUGATION
 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATIONS

1. If a centrifuge is 0.9 m diameter and rotates at 20 Hz, at what speed should a laboratory
centrifuge of 150 mm diameter be run if it is to duplicate the performance of the large unit?

SOLUTION
x1 = 0.45 m, ω1 = (20 x 2π) = 40π rad/s, x2 = 0.075 m
0.45( 40π )2 / g = 0.075 ω22 / g
ω2 = √[6 (40π)2] = (2.45 x 40π) = 98π rad/s
speed of rotation = (98π / 2π) = 49Hz (2940 rpm)

2. An aqueous suspension consisting of particles of density 2500 kg/m3 in the size range 1-10
µm is introduced into a centrifuge with a basket 450 mm diameter rotating at 80 Hz. If the
suspension forms a layer 75 mm thick in the basket, approximately how long will it take
for the smallest particle to settle out?

SOLUTION
2
T = 𝑎′ [( x + h2)0.5 - (x + h1)0.5]
where a’ = √[3dω(ρs - ρ)]
d is the diameter of the smallest particle = 1 x 10-6 m
ω is the angular velocity of the basket = ( 80 x 2π ) = 502.7 rad/s
ρs is the density of the solid = 2500 kg/m3
ρ is the density of the fluid = 1000 kg/m3
x is the radius of the inner surface of the liquid = 0.150m.

a’ = √[3 x 1 x 10-6 x 502.72(2500 - 1000)/1000] = 1.066

t = (2/1.066)[(0.150 + 0.075)0.5 - (0.150 + 0)0.5]
= 1.876(0.474 - 0.387) = 0.163 s
This is a very low value, equivalent to a velocity of (0.075 / 0.163) = 0.46 m/s. Because of the
very small diameter of the particle, it is more than likely that the conditions are laminar, even at
this particle velocity.

For water, taking µ = 0.001 N s/m2 , then:

Re = (1 x 10-6 x 0.46 x 1000)/0.001 = 0.46
t = { 18µ/[d2ω2 (ρs - ρ)]} ln[ (x + h2)/(x + h1)]
= {18 x 0.001/[10-12 x 502.72(2500-1000)]} ln [(0.150 + 0.075)/(0.150 + 0)]
= 47. 5 ln(0.225 / 0.150) = 19. 3s

3. A centrifuge basket 600 mm long and 100 mm internal diameter has a discharge weir 25mm
diameter. What is the maximum volumetric flow of liquid through the centrifuge such that,
when the basket is rotated at 200 Hz, all the particles of the diameter greater than 1 µm are
retained on the centrifuge wall? The retarding force on a particle moving liquid may be
taken as 3πµdu, where u is the particle velocity relative to the liquid, µ is the liquid
velocity, and d is the particle diameter. The density of the liquid is 1000 kg/m3, the density
 of the solid is 2000 kg/m3 and the viscosity of the liquid is 1.0mN s/m2. The inertia of the
particle may be neglected.

SOLUTION
(πd3 / 6)(ρs - ρ)( x + h)ω2 - 3πµdu - (πd3 / 6)ρs du/dt = 0

Replacing u by dh/dt and neglecting the acceleration term gives:

(dh/dt) = d2((ρs - ρ)ω2( x + h)/18 µ

The time any element of material remains in the basket is V’/Q, where Q is the volumetric rate of
feed to the centrifuge and V’ is the volume of liquid retained in the basket at any time. If the flow
rate is adjusted so that a particle of diameter d is just retained when it has to travel through the
maximum distance h = (b - x) before reaching the wall, then:

ℎ = 𝑑2((𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌)𝑏𝜔2𝑉’/(18µ𝑄) or:

Q = d2((ρs - ρ)bω2V’/(18µh)

V’ = (π/4)(0.12 - 0.0252) x 0.6 = 0.0044 m3

h = (0.10 - 0.025) / 2
[(1𝑥10−6 )2 (2000 − 1000)𝑥0.1𝑥(200𝑥2𝜋)2 𝑥0.0044]
𝑄=
(18𝑥0.001𝑥0.0375)
= 1.03 x 10 m /s (1 cm3/s)
-3 3

4. When an aqueous slurry is filtered in a plate and frame press, fitted with two mm thick
frames each 150mm square at a pressure difference of 350 kN/m2, the frames are filled in
3600s. the liquid in the slurry has the same density as water. How long will it take to
produce the same volume of filtrate as is obtained from a single cycle when using a
centrifuge with a perforated basket 300 mm in diameter and 800 mm deep? The radius of
the inner surface of the slurry is maintained constant at 75 mm and speed of rotation is 65
Hz (3900 rpm).
It may be assumed that the filter cake is incompressible, that the resistance of the cloth
is equivalent to 3mm of filter cake in both cases and that the liquid in the slurry has the
same density as water.

SOLUTION
In filter press
V=0 t=0
2
𝐴𝐿 2(−∆𝑃)𝐴2 𝑡
𝑉 +2 𝑉=
𝑣 𝑟𝜇𝑣
𝑙𝐴
𝑉=
𝑣
𝐴2 𝑙 2 𝐴𝐿 𝑙𝐴 2(−∆𝑃)𝐴2 𝑡
+ (2 ) ( ) =
𝑣2 𝑣 𝑣 𝑟𝜇𝑣
2
2(−∆𝑃)𝐴2 𝑡
𝑙 + 2𝐿𝑙 =
𝑟𝜇𝑣
For one cycle:
𝑙 = 25 𝑚𝑚 = 0.025 𝑚
𝐿 = 3 𝑚𝑚 = 0.03 𝑚
−∆𝑃 = 350 𝑘𝑁/ 𝑚2
𝑡 = 3600 s
𝑣
∴ 0.0252 + (2 × 0.003 × 0.025) = 2 × 3.5 × 105 × 3600 ×
𝜇𝑣
𝑣
( ) = 3.25 × 1012
𝜇𝑣
In the centrifuge
2𝐿 r 2𝑣𝑡𝜌𝜔2
(𝑅 2 − 𝑟 2 ) (1 + ) + 𝑟 2 ln( ) = ( (𝑅 2 − 𝑟𝑜 2 )
𝑅 R 𝑟𝜇
𝑅 = 0.15 𝑚
H = 0.20 𝑚
Volume of cake = 2 × 0.05 × 0.152 = 0.00225 𝑚3
𝜋(𝑅 2 − 𝑟 2 ) × 0.20 = 0.00225
(𝑅 2 − 𝑟 2 ) = 0.00358
𝑟 = 0.138 𝑚
𝑟𝑜 = 75 𝑚𝑚 = 0.075 𝑚
𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝜔 = 65 × 2𝜋 = 408.4
𝑠
The time taken to produce the same volume of filtrate or cake as in one cycle of the filter press
is therefore given by:
0.003 0.138
(0.152 − 𝑟0.1382 ) (1 + 2 × ) + 2(0.0189) ln ( )
0.15 0.15
2𝑡 × 1000 × 408.42
= (0.152 − 0.0752 )
3.25 × 102
0.00359 − 0.00315 = 1.732 × 10−6 𝑡
4.4 × 10−4
𝑡=
1.732 × 10−6
𝑡 = 254 𝑠 𝑜𝑟 4.25 𝑚𝑖𝑛

5. In the above problem, we would like to scale up the centrifuge. We have to design a
centrifuge such that it can handle 1.5 times q in Question (4). r1 and r2 remains same, find
the length of the centrifuge. Both the centrifuges have same rotational speed?

𝑞1 𝑞2
=
Σ1 Σ2
𝑞1 Σ1
=
𝑞2 Σ2
𝜔2 𝜋𝑏(𝑟2 2 − 𝑟1 2 )
Σ=
2𝑟
2𝑔 ln(𝑟 +2 𝑟 )
2 1
 𝑞1 𝑏1
=
1.5𝑞1 𝑏2
𝑏2 = 1.5𝑞1 = 1.5 × 0.25 𝑚
𝑏2 = 0.375 𝑚

6. A centrifuge with a phosphor bronze basket, 380mm in diameter is to be run at 67 Hz with

a 75 mm layer of liquid of density 1200 kg/m3 in the basket. What thickness of walls are
required in the basket? The density of phosphor bronze is 8900 kg/m3 and the maximum
safe stress for phosphor bronze is 87.6 MN/m2.

SOLUTION
The stress at the walls is given by:
S = (rb/t)(Pc - ρmtrbω2)
where:
rb is the radius of the basket = (380/2) = 190mm or 0.19m
t is the wall thickness (m)
Ρp is the density of the metal = 8900 kg/m3
ω is the rotational speed of the basket = (67 x 2π)2 = 1.77 x 105 rad/s
Pc is the pressure at the walls, given by:
Pc = 0.5 ρω2(rb2- x2)
ρ is the density of the liquid = 1200 kg/m3
and x is the radius at the liquid surface = [380 - (2 x 75)]/2
= 115mm or 0.115m

Pc = (0.5 x 1200 x 1.77 x 105)(0.192 - 0.1152)

= 2.43 x 106 N/m2
S = (0.19/t)[2.43 x 106 + (8900t x 0.19 x 1.77 x 10t5)]
= (0.19/t)(2.43 x 106 + 2.993 x 108 t)
= (4.62 x 105/t) + 5. 69 x 107 N/m2

The safe stress = 87.6 x 106 N/m2

87.6 x 106 = (4.62 x 105/t) + 5. 69 x 107

t =1.51 x 102 m or 15.1 mm

7. A viscous solution containing particles with density ρp=1461 Kg/m3 is clarified by

centrifugation. Solution density ρ=801 Kg/m3; Viscosity μ=100 cp. Centrifuge bowl with
r2=0.02225 m.; r1=0.00716 m.; height=b=0.197 m.; Calculate critical particle diameter of
the largest particles in the exit stream if N=23000 rev/min, q=0.002832 m3/hr.

2𝜋𝑁 2𝜋(23000) 𝑟𝑎𝑑

𝜔= = = 2410
60 60 𝑠
Let V: bowl volume
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑏 (𝑟2 2 − 𝑟1 2 ) = 𝜋(0.197) (0.022252 − 0.007162 )
 𝑉 = 2.747 × 10−4 𝑚3
𝜇 = 100 × 10−3 = 0.1 𝑝𝑎. 𝑠
0.002832
𝑞𝑐 = = 7.887 × 10−7 𝑚3 /𝑠
3600
𝐷𝑝𝑐 = 0.746 𝜇𝑚

8. In a test on a centrifuge all particles of a mineral of density 2800 kg/m3 and of size 5 km,
equivalent spherical diameter, were separated from suspension in water fed at a volumetric
throughput rate of 0.25 m3/s. Calculate the value of the capacity factor Σ.

What will be the corresponding size cut for a suspension of coal particles in oil fed at the
rate of 0.04 m3/s? The density of coal is 1300 kg/m3 and the density of the oil is 850 kg/m3
and its viscosity is 0.01 Ns/m2. It may be assumed that Stokes’ law is applicable.
SOLUTION
𝜌 = 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝑁𝑠
𝜇 = 10−3 2
𝑚
𝑑 2 (𝜌2 − 𝜌)𝑔 25 × 1012 × (2800 − 1000) × 9.81
𝑢𝑜 = =
18𝜇 18 × 10−3
−5
𝑢𝑜 = 2.45 × 10 𝑚/𝑠
𝑄 = 𝑢𝑜 Σ
0.25
Σ= = 1.02 × 104 𝑚2
2.45 × 10−5
𝑄 0.04
𝑢𝑜 = = = 3.92 × 10−6 𝑚/𝑠
Σ 1.02 × 104
18𝜇𝑢𝑜
𝑑2 =
(𝜌2 − 𝜌)𝐺
18 × 10−2 × 3.92 × 10−6 3.92 × 10−6
𝑑2 =
(1300 − 850)9.81

𝑑 = 4.0 × 10−6 𝑚 𝑜𝑟 4 𝜇𝑚
9. A centrifuge having a radius of the bowl of 0.1016 m is rotating at N = 1000 rev/min.
a) Calculate the centrifugal force developed in terms of gravity forces.
b) Compare this force to that for a bowl with a radius of 0.2032 m rotating at the same rev/min.

SOLUTION
(a) r = 0.1016 m
(b) r = 0.2032 m
N = 1000 rev/min
𝐹𝑐
(a) = 0.001118 𝑟𝑁 2
𝐹𝑔

𝐹𝑐
= 113.6 𝑔
𝐹𝑔
 𝐹𝑐
(b) = 0.001118 𝑟𝑁 2
𝐹𝑔
𝐹𝑐
= 227.2 𝑔
𝐹𝑔

10. The rotor of an ultracentrifuge rotates at 50,000 rpm (revolutions per minute). A particle at
the top of a test tube is 6.00 cm from the rotation axis. Calculate its centripetal acceleration,
in “g’s.”
SOLUTION
𝑅 = 6 𝑐𝑚 = 0.06 𝑚
1𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑇= = = 1.2 × 10−3 𝑠𝑒𝑐
50000 𝑟𝑒𝑣 50000 𝑟𝑒𝑣
2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋(0.06)
𝑣= = = 314 𝑚/𝑠
𝑇 1.2 × 10−3 𝑠𝑒𝑐