Dr. S.S.

B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,

PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

Title: Batch Settling.

Objective: To study batch settling and -

 Plot a graph between height of interface and time.
 A log-log graph between initial rate and concentration.

Theory:
Batch settling
There are several stages in the settling of a flocculated
suspension, different zones are formed as process proceeds. Usually, the
concentration of solid is high enough that sedimentation of individual particles is
hindered by other solids to such an extent that all solids at a given level settle at a
common velocity.
At first the solid is uniformly distributed in the liquid, after a short time
the solids have settled to a give a zone of a clear liquid and a zone of settled solids.
Above settled solids zone, there is a transition layer in which the solids content
varies from that in the original slurry to that in the zone of settled solids. In the
zone above it, the conc. of slurry is uniform and equal to that of original, since the
settling rate is same throughout the zone. The boundary between the zones of clear
liquid and that of uniform conc. is usually sharp.
As settling continues, the depth of zone of settled solids and that of
clear liquid increases. The depth of transition layer remains nearly constant and
that of zone of uniform concentration decreases. Eventually this zone disappear
and all the solids are in zone of settled solids and transition layer. Meanwhile, the
gradual accumulation of solids put stress on the material and the bottom, which
compresses solids in the bottom layer. Compression break down the structure of
aggregates and liquid is expelled into the upper zone. Finally, when the weight of
solid is balanced by the compressive strength of the flocs, the settling process
stops. This entire process is called sedimentation.

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

Gravity separation under hindered settling is often used to convert a

dilute slurry of fine particles into a clear liquid and a concentrated suspension. This
process is carried out in large open tank called thickeners or clarifiers.

Description of setup:
The setup consists of 4 long measuring cylinders of 1000ml each in which slurry of
calcium carbonate with water is fed. Four different concentration of slurry viz
5.5%, 7.5%, 9.5%, 11.5% w/v is fed to different cylinder.

Schematic Diagram:

Procedure:

 Make the required concentration slurries in 4 different measuring cylinders

of 1000ml each.
 Stir the content of the cylinder to get uniform concentration of suspension all
over.
 Allow the suspension to settle under gravity.
 Note the height of the interface between the clear liquid and suspension at
different time.
 Take about 70-150 readings.
 Repeat the same for other three solutions.

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

Observation table:

5.5% Solution

Time ( seconds) Height ( Cm) Time (seconds) Height(Cm)

11 29.5 401 12
22 29 413 11.5
33 28.5 426 11
44 28 439 10.5
54 27.5 452 10
64 27 468 9.5
73 26.5 484 9
84 26 498 8.8
94 25.5 515 8.6
105 25 535 8.4
115 24.5 562 8.2
125 24 591 8
136 23.5 617 7.8
147 23 643 7.6
159 22.5 671 7.4
170 22 702 7.2
181 21.5 729 7
192 21 763 6.8
203 20.5 799 6.6
214 20 837 6.4
225 19.5 875 6.2
236 19 918 6
246 18.5 963 5.8
257 18 1016 5.6
268 17.5 1071 5.4
280 17 1128 5.2

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

291 16.5 1186 5

302 16 1248 4.8
314 15.5 1322 4.6
326 15 1407 4.4
339 14.5 1502 4.2
352 14 1601 4
364 13.5 1726 3.8
377 13 1859 3.6
389 12.5 2004 3.4

9.5% Solution

Time ( Seconds) Height (Cm) Time ( Seconds) Height (Cm )

18 30 771 13.4
32 29.5 794 13.2
49 29 824 13
66 28.5 854 12.8
80 28 878 12.6
98 27.5 904 12.4
112 27 942 12.2
126 26.5 962 12
142 26 999 11.8
160 25.5 1030 11.6
176 25 1058 11.4
194 24.5 1101 11.2
212 24 1145 11
228 23.5 1188 10.8
246 23 1225 10.6
268 22.5 1268 10.4
283 22 1316 10.2
300 21.5 1357 10

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

317 21 1404 9.8

337 20.5 1462 9.6
356 20 1511 9.4
392 19.5 1560 9.2
415 19 1610 9
437 18.5 1673 8.8
459 18 1726 8.6
478 17.5 1784 8.4
485 17 1847 8.2
535 16.5 1920 8
563 16 1996 7.8
598 15.5 2067 7.6
612 15 2158 7.4
641 14.8 2235 7.2
654 14.5 2328 7
683 14.3 2442 6.8
712 14 2535 6.6
726 13.8 2649 6.4
747 13.6 2738 6.2

11.5% Solution

Time ( Seconds) Height(Cm) Time( Seconds) Height (Cm)

24 29.5 1405 14.5
46 29 1516 14
69 28.5 1561 13.8
94 28 1609 13.6
121 27.5 1658 13.4
143 27 1707 13.2
172 26.5 1756 13
199 26 1810 12.8

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

226 25.5 1871 12.6

255 25 1918 12.4
285 24.5 1979 12.2
314 24 2034 12
346 23.5 2093 11.8
378 23 2160 11.6
412 22.5 2222 11.4
446 22 2299 11.2
484 21.5 2380 11
512 21 2458 10.8
553 20.5 2549 10.6
602 20 2638 10.4
652 19.5 2736 10.2
704 19 2839 10
757 18.5 2947 9.8
815 18 3050 9.6
882 17.5 3162 9.4
953 17 3259 9.2
1028 16.5 3380 9
1112 16 3557 8.8
1204 15.5 3798 8.6
1299 15 4123 8.4

7.5% Solution

Time ( Seconds) Height( Cm ) Time( seconds) Height( Cm)

0.9 29 444 12.2
20 28.5 454 12
32 28 470 11.8
43 27.5 477 11.6
55 27 493 11.4
67 26.5 509 11.2

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

78 26 520 11
87 25.5 541 10.8
100 25 558 10.6
111 24.5 574 10.4
122 24 602 10.2
134 23.5 614 10
147 23 640 9.8
157 22.5 669 9.6
168 22 700 9.4
181 21.5 728 9.2
192 21 760 9
204 20.5 787 8.8
215 20 828 8.6
228 19.5 862 8.4
240 19 921 8.2
252 18.5 973 8
266 18 1027 7.8
279 17.5 1074 7.6
291 17 1118 7.4
306 16.5 1157 7.2
318 16 1202 7
332 15.5 1253 6.8
345 15 1306 6.6
353 14.8 1355 6.4
358 14.6 1402 6.2
362 14.4 1478 6
369 14.2 1566 5.8
373 14 1632 5.6
382 13.8 1717 5.4
389 13.6 1794 5.2
394 13.4 1891 5
402 13.2 2030 4.8
412 13 2229 4.6

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

421 12.8 2544 4.4

425 12.6 3072 4.2
437 12.4

Graphs:

CONCENTRATION 5.5%
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

TIME (Seconds)

CONCENTRATION 9.5%
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

CONCENTRATION 11.5%
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

CONCENTRATION 7.5%
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111

 Dr. S.S.B UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

Settling curve:

dh/dt vs. Conc. (g/l)

1
10 100 1000

0.1
dh/dt

0.01

0.001
Concentration(gm/l)

Result:
As shown by the plot above, during the early stages of settling the velocity is
increasing, as shown by the first portion of the curve. Then rate of settling starts
decreasing and steadily drops until the ultimate height is reached. The velocity at
this transition is given critical settling velocity.

B.E. CHEMICAL IInd Year AVIRAL SELI CH12111