CMET 302 Unit Operation

Module 2 Class 5
Separation Processes
Presented by :
Dr. Golam Moula
Yanbu Industrial College, RCYCI, Yanbu, KSA
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Differences between “Filtration” &“Settling and Sedimentation”:
In filtration, the solid particles are removed from the slurry by
forcing the fluid through a filter medium, which blocks the passage
of the solid particles and allows the filtrate to pass through.
In settling and sedimentation, the particles are separated from
the fluid by gravitational forces acting on the particles.

What is Settling, Sediment and Sedimentation ?

Settling- a unit operation in which solids are drawn toward a source of
attraction. The particular type of settling that will be discussed in this
section is gravitational settling. It should be noted that settling is different
from sedimentation.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation

What is Settling, Sediment and Sedimentation ?

Sediment- any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid
flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles
on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid.
Sedimentation-the condition whereby the solids are already at the
bottom and in the process of sedimenting. Settling is not yet
sedimenting, but the particles are falling down the water column
in response to gravity. Of course, as soon as the solids reach the
bottom, they begin sedimenting. In the physical treatment of
water and wastewater, settling is normally carried out in settling
or sedimentation basins.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
PURPOSES of “Settling and Sedimentation”:
❖ To remove the particles from the fluid stream so that the fluid is free of
particle contaminants.
❖ In other processes, the particles are recovered as the product, as in recovery
of the dispersed phase in liquid–liquid extraction.
❖ In some cases, Suspend particles in fluids for separation into different
sizes or density .
APPLICATIONS of “Settling and Sedimentation”:
❖ Removal of solids from liquid sewage wastes.
❖ Settling of crystals from the mother liquor.
❖ Settling of solid food particles from a liquid food.
❖ Settling of a slurry from a soybean leaching process.
❖ Separation of liquid–liquid mixture from a solvent-extraction stage in a Settler
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
What is “Free Settling”, “Hindered Settling ?
❖ Free Settling : When a particle is at a sufficient distance from the
walls of the container and from other particles so that its fall is
not affected by them, the process is called free settling.
Interference is less than 1% if the ratio of the particle diameter to
the container diameter is less than 1:200 or if the particle
concentration is less than 0.2 vol % in the solution.
❖ Hindered Settling : When the particles are crowded, they settle
at a lower rate and the process is called hindered settling.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Motions of Particle through Fluid:
Three forces acting on a rigid particle moving in a fluid

1. External force, gravitational or centrifugal.

2. Buoyant force, which acts parallel with the external force but in the opposite
direction
3. Drag force, which appears whenever there is relative motion between the
particle and the fluid (frictional resistance)
Drag: the force in the direction of flow exerted by the fluid on the solid
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
1) Derivations of basic equations for rigid spheres:
Whenever a particle is moving through a fluid, a number of forces
will be acting on the particle. First, a density difference is needed
between the particle and the fluid. An external force of gravity is
needed to impart motion to the particle. If the densities of the fluid
and particle are equal, the buoyant force on the particle will
counterbalance the external force and the particle will not move
relative to the fluid.

For a rigid particle moving in a fluid, there are three forces acting
on the body: gravity acting downward, buoyant force acting
upward, and resistance or drag force acting in opposite direction
to the particle motion.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
1) Derivations of basic equations for rigid spheres (Contd.):
We will consider a particle of mass m kg falling at a velocity ν
m/s relative to the fluid. The density of the solid particle is ρp
kg/m3 solid and that of the liquid is ρ kg/m3 liquid. The buoyant
force Fb in N on the particle is
Eq. 14.3-1

where m/ρp is the volume Vp in m3 of the particle and g is the

gravitational acceleration in m/s2.
The gravitation or external force Fg in N on the particle is
Eq. 14.3-2
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
1) Derivations of basic equations for rigid spheres (Contd.):
The drag force FD on a body in N may be derived from the fact
that, as in flow of fluids, the drag force or frictional resistance is
proportional to the velocity head ν2/2 of the fluid displaced by the
moving body.
This must be multiplied by the density of the fluid and by a
significant area A, such as the projected area of the particle.
Eq. 14.3-3

where the drag coefficient CD is the proportionality constant and is

dimensionless.
The resultant force on the body is then Fg − Fb − FD. This resultant
force must equal the force due to acceleration:
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
1) Derivations of basic equations for rigid spheres (Contd.):
The resultant force on the body is then Fg − Fb − FD. This resultant force
must equal the force due to acceleration:

Eq. 14.3-4

Substituting Eqs. (14.3-1)–(14.3-3) into (14.3-4),

Eq. 14.3-5

If we start from the moment the body is released from its position of
rest, the falling of the body consists of two periods: the period of
accelerated fall and the period of constant-velocity fall. The initial
acceleration period is usually very short, on the order of a tenth of a
second or so. Hence, the period of constant-velocity fall is the important
one. The velocity is called the free settling velocity or terminal velocity
νt.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
1) Derivations of basic equations for rigid spheres (Contd.):
To solve for the terminal velocity in Eq. (14.3-5), dν/dt = 0 and the
equation becomes Eq. 14.3-6

For spherical particles and .

Substituting these into Eq. (14.3-6), we obtain, for spherical
particles,
14.3-7

where νt is m/s (ft/s), ρ is kg/m3 (lbm/ft3), g is 9.80665 m/s2 (32.174 ft/s2), and Dp
is m (ft).
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
2) Drag coefficient for rigid spheres:
The drag coefficient for rigid spheres has been shown to be a function
of the Reynolds number Dpνρ/μ of the sphere and is shown in Fig.
14.3-1. In the laminar-flow region, called the Stokes' law region for
NRe < 1, the drag coefficient is Figure 14.3-1. Drag coefficient for a rigid sphere.

14.3-8

where μ is the viscosity of the liquid in Pa · s

or kg/m · s (lbm/ft s).
Restricted Conditions (Fig 14.3-1):
1) must be a solid sphere particle
2) far from other particles and the vessel wall (flow pattern around
the particle is not distorted)
3) moving at its terminal velocity with respect to the fluid
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fluid:
2) Drag coefficient for rigid spheres:
Substituting into Eq. (14.3-7) for
laminar flow,
14.3-9

For other shapes of particles, drag coefficients will differ from

those given in Fig. 14.3-1.
In the turbulent Newton's law region above a Reynolds
number of about 1000 to 2.0 × 10^5, the drag coefficient is
approximately constant at CD = 0.44.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Theory of Particle Movement Through a Fuild:
2) Drag coefficient for rigid spheres:
Note : If the particles are quite small, Brownian motion is
present. Brownian motion is the random motion imparted to
the particle by collisions between the molecules of the fluid
surrounding the particle and the particle. This movement of
the particles in random directions tends to suppress the effect
of gravity, so settling of the particles may occur more slowly
or not at all. At particle sizes of a few micrometers, the
Brownian effect becomes appreciable, and at sizes of less than
0.1 μm, the effect predominates. For very small particles,
application of centrifugal force helps reduce the effect of
Brownian motion.
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation

Settling Velocity of Oil Droplets : Example. 14.3-1

Oil droplets having a diameter of 20 μm (0.020 mm) are to be
settled from air at temperature of 37.8°C (311 K) and 101.3 kPa
pressure. The density of the oil is 900 kg/m3. Calculate the
terminal settling velocity of the droplets
SOLUTION:
The various knowns are Dp = 2.0 × 10−5 m and ρp = 900 kg/m3. From Appendix A.3,
for air at 37.8°C, ρ = 1.137 kg/m3, μ = 1.90 × 10−5 Pa · s. The droplet will be
assumed to be a rigid sphere.
To calculate Vt by equation 14.3-7 we need C D that ca
be determined from Fig 14.3-1, if we know Re. But to calculate Re
need Vt again. So, we have to use trial and error for Vt to proceed
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation

Settling Velocity of Oil Droplets : Example. 14.3-1 SOLUTION:

The Reynold number is as follows:
14.3-10

For the first trial, assume that νt = 0.305 m/s. Then NRe = 1.197(0.305) =
0.365. Substituting into Eq. (14.3-7) and solving for CD,

14.3-11

Using νt = 0.305 m/s, CD = 0.2067/(0.305)2 = 2.22.

IS THESE NRe vs CD on the curve of Fig. 14.3-1. IF NOT, THEN NEXT TRIAL
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation

Settling Velocity of Oil Droplets : Example. 14.3-1 SOLUTION:

Assuming second trial that νt = 0.0305 m/s, NRe = 0.0365 from Eq. (14.3-10)
and CD = 222 from Eq. (14.3-11). For the third trial, assuming that νt = 0.00305 m/s,
NRe = 0.00365 and CD = 22200. These three values calculated for NRe and CD are
plotted on a graph similar to Fig. 14.3-1 and shown in Fig. 14.3-2.
Figure 14.3-2. Solution of Example 14.3-1 for settling velocity of a particle.

It can be shown that the line through

these points is a straight line.
The intersection of this line and the
drag-coefficient correlation line is the
solution to the problem at NRe = 0.012.
So, from equation 14.3-10,
Vt can be calculated
 Settling and sedimentation in a Particle-fluid separation
Settling Velocity of Oil Droplets : Example. 14.3-1 SOLUTION:
The velocity can be calculated from the Reynolds number in Eq. (14.3-
10):

The particle is in the Reynolds number range less than 1, which is the laminar
Stokes' law region. Alternatively, the velocity can be calculated by
substituting into Eq. (14.3-9):

Note: that Eq. (14.3-9) could not be used until it was determined that the
particle fall was in the laminar region.
 Next Class
MECHANICAL-PHYSICAL SEPARATION:
Settling and Sedimentation in
Particle-Fluid separation