Theory of Particle Movement through a Fluid

Consider a particle A of mass m moving through a fluid under the action of an

external force Fe.

A Forces that act on A:

FD = drag force
Fb = buoyant force
FD Fe Fb Fe = external force which can either be gravitational or
centrifugal

where a = acceleration of the particle

v = velocity of the particle relative to the fluid

where CD = the drag coefficient which is analogous to the friction factor

A = projected area of the particle normal to the flow

where ρ = density of the fluid

VP = volume of the particle =
Substituting,

or

Motion from gravitational force: ae = g

Motion in a centrifugal field:

A centrifugal force appears whenever the direction of movement of a particle is
changed. The acceleration from a centrifugal force from circular motion is
ae = rω2
where r = radius of path of particle
ω = angular velocity, rad/s
Substituting into the above equation we have

Free Settling (Unhindered Settling): particle is falling in a gravitational field and

other particles present do not hinder its fall.

1
Terminal Velocity (Free settling velocity), vt: defined as the maximum velocity
attainable by a particle falling in a fluid. At the terminal velocity, the forces acting on
the particle balance and acceleration becomes zero ( .
As particles fall, velocity increases until the accelerating and resisting forces
become equal. When this point is reached, velocity of the particle remains constant.

For gravitational settling,

Terminal velocity

In motion from a centrifugal force, the velocity depends on the radius, and the
acceleration is not constant if the particle is in motion with respect to the fluid. In
many practical uses of centrifugal force, however, is small in comparison with the
other two terms in the equation below.

If is neglected, a terminal velocity at any given radius can be defined by

Terminal velocity for a
particle in centrifugal field

For spherical particles,

(projected area)

Substituting m and A in the equation for the terminal velocity for gravitational settling,
the terminal velocity for a spherical particle is given by

In general cases (i.e. for other shapes of particles), for the determination of the
terminal velocity, we must determine CD, which is dependent on the following factors:
1. Flow of particle: defined the Reynolds number,
Functionality of CD with Rep: drag diagrams

Flow regimes:
24
Laminar flow: NRe < 1.0 → CD = ( Stokes law )
NRe

2
 → νt =
( ρP − ρ ) gDP 2
18µ
Transitional flow: 1.0< NRe < 103 → CD ≈ 18NRe −0.6
5 8 3
 2g  P     7
DP 7 7
→ t    
 27      
3
7

Turbulent flow: 103 < NRe < 105

 4 ( ρP − ρ ) gDP 
→ log CD = log   − 2log ( ν t )
 3ρ 
 4ρ ( ρP − ρ ) gDP3 
→ log CD = −2log ( NRe ) + log  
 3µ 2

 4g ( ρs − ρ ) µ 
→ log CD = log ( NRe ) + log  
 3ρ ν t
2 3

→ equation of a straight line
2. Particle shape: defined by a shape factor such as sphericity ψ

Surface area of a sphere of the 

 same volume as the particle 
ψ= 
Surface area of the particle
Study Example 22.1 of Foust
CLASSIFICATION
→ separation of solid particles into several fractions based upon their terminal/settling
velocities
Consider two particles in a rising current of water with different settling velocities:
• The slower-settling particle will rise with the water
• The faster-settling particle will settle to the bottom
Consider a suspension being fed through a tank with a very large cross-sectional area:
• The slower-settling particle will settle near the exit
• The faster-settling particle will settle near the entrance
For a suspension mixture of two different materials with unequal densities and a large
size range (ρa > ρb):

If   t  b,largest    t  a,smallest , then no separation will occur.

The size range for both particles where separation is possible may be determined by

the diameter ratio for the particles having the same t .

3
 n
Da  b   
 
Db  a   
1
where n  for laminar flow
2
n  1 for turbulent flow
1
 n  1 for transition flow
2

Study Example 22.2 of Foust