1

Date: 26/03/2019

Solid Particles characterization: Settling terminal velocity.

Angie Marcela Lopez, Laura Camila Roa, Carlos Alberto Lamus

Universidad de La Sabana, Engineering Faculty

Chemical & Environmental Engineering Dpt.

Abstract
In this study, the rate of sedimentation of two sample of particles, strach and sand, in a liquid, water, is followed. The starch particles
diameter are in a 250-212 μm range and the sand particles diameter in a 455-300μm, and a microscopic picture of both sample was taken to
analyze the particles sphericity, which is of 0,80 and 0,62, respectively. Three experiments was carried out, where stokes’ law and hindered
settling was studied; first, settling starch in clean water, second, settling sand in clean water and third, settling sand in a starch-water mixture.
Finally it was found, terminal velocity is higher as the particle size increase. Consequently, in starch test Ut is lower than in sand test.

Index Terms—Particle diameter, reynolds numbers, settling, stokes’ law.

INTRODUCTION1 from wake interactions among the spheres. This microstructure,

which occurs in dilute suspensions and is most pronounced at the
The settling or sedimentation of particles in fluid is a common higher Reynolds numbers.[3]
phenomenon both in nature and various industrial processes. Description of the particles selected for this case.
Some of the particular applications areas are separating dirt or
The particles selected for this laboratory were 2: starch and sand.
crystals from liquids, separating dust particles from air-streams,
Starch is composed of two polymers of glucose units: amylose,
settling of micro-organisms and migration of micro-scale particles
essentially linear in character, and amylopectin, highly branched
[1]
and of higher molecular weight. They are organized in a granule
The suspension is dilute and so the particles are assumed to
insoluble in water at room temperature and in most organic
fall at their single particle terminal velocity in the liquid (usually
solvents. The granule of starch and its size are determinants in its
water). Stokes’ law is assumed to apply (Rep < 2) and so the
processability, which affects the solubility (in plasticizer medium)
method using water is suitable only for particles typically less
and the power of granular swelling. Granular swelling and release
than 50 mm in diameter. Then, the following assumptions are
of soluble material begins in the hilum of the starch granule and
made
rapidly extends to the periphery. [4]
● The suspension is sufficiently dilute for the particles to
The starch granule used had a white color has a size that varies
settle as individuals.
between 250 and 212 μm this makes it smaller and with different
● Motion of the particles in the liquid obeys Stokes’ law
chemical and physical properties which will change the terminal
(true for particles typically smaller than 50 mm).
velocities in each one.
● Particles are assumed to accelerate rapidly to their
terminal free fall velocity UT so that the time for
Likewise, sand is a collection of loose fragments of rocks or
acceleration is negligible.
minerals of small size. In geology, sand is the material composed
All particles travel at their terminal velocity given by Stokes’ law
of particles whose size varies between 0.063 and 2 mm. An
individual particle within this range is called a grain or sand class.
A consolidated rock composed of these particles is called
sandstone (or psamita) or calcarenite, if the components are
(1) calcareous. Particles below 0.063 mm and up to 0.004 mm are
Thus, equating UT with h/t , we determine the diameter of the called silt, and above the sand grain size and up to 64 mm are
particle travelling at our cut-off velocity h/ t . That is, called gravel.[5]
This means that the sand provided in the laboratory is between
these ranges established for this material, because it is between
455-300 micrometers.
(2)
Particles smaller than x will travel slower than h/t and will still be
PROCEDURES FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF SETTLING TERMINAL VELOCITY
in suspension at the sampling point.[2]
On the other hand, the hindered settling velocity follows a power
law when the particle microstructure is similar to that in a hard- First, the sphericity of the particles of both sand and starch is
sphere suspension. The deviation from the power-law behavior calculated
can be correlated with an anisotropic microstructure resulting
Sphericity:
1 Corresponding author:
 Fig. 1. Starch sphericity
¿¿
Where:
b = average of the measurements
c= shorter side
a= longest side

For hindered settling velocity it is necessary to make the

follow corrections with the room temperature:
Fluid density

(3)
Fig. 2. Sand sphericity
Fluid viscosity
Table 1: measurement of the particles

Starch Sand
(4) 34,89 176,4
Then find the values for the follow properties 36,84 135,82
37,75 123,86
23,69 145,84
31,52 176,46
35,12 302,38
(5)
Effective density
Table 2: measurement for the sphericity
measurement Starch Sand
a 37,35 302,38
b 33,30 179,79
(6) c 23,69 123,86
Effective viscosity
Table 3: Sphericity
Starch Sand
0,82 0,62
(7)

Table 4. Calculation variables

in the medium they take in the particles to reach the bottom
of the cone in each case (for starch, sand and mixture, all in
water at 21 ° C). sediment as for the last. From these results Type of measurement, Average value/units
and knowing the distance traveled by the particles, the
diameters were determined using the equation (2). With these Viscosity 0,000978 Pa/s
diameters the speed of each particle is determined, as well as Density 998,02 Kg/m3
the time to determine the flow regime. Effective density 997,48 Kg/m3
Starch concentration 0,08 % Weight
Effective viscosity 0,000982 Pa/s
The particles used for the tests were starch particles with sizes Temperature 21 °C
between 250 and 212 μm and sand particles with particles
between 455 and 300 μm Table 5. Experimental particle diameters

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS.

Diameter Diameter
minimun µm maximun
µm
Starch 66,22 162,53
Sand 129,14 258,28
Starch + sand 100,16 153,72
 3
Date: 26/03/2019
are: volume, density and acceleration due to gravity.
Let us now consider the overall object density. If it is less than
that of the fluid, the object will float and achieve the above
Table 6. Speeds and number of reynolds for minimum diameters condition once it comes to rest. On the other hand, if the overall
object is greater than that of the fluid, it will sink. Even when the
Diameter Velocity Reynolds body sinks, buoyant force acts on it. Just that is dominated by the
minimun µm Ut force of gravity acting on the body. When in the process of
Starch 66,22 1,23 E-3 8,28 sinking or already sunk, the buoyancy force depends on the
Sand 129,14 9,78E-3 1,29 volume of the object, the density of the fluid and more
Starch + sand 9,100,16 1,88 E-3 1,91E-1 importantly, the local gravitational field.
In this case, the sand particles are larger than the starch particles,
Table 7. Speeds and number of reynolds for maximum diameters so there is more buoyancy in the sand, for this reason the sand
particles take much longer to descend through the cone. On the
Diameter Velocity Reynolds other hand the densities of both particles are also different and
maximun µm Ut by adding the starch first, we change the density of the water and
Starch 162,53 7,38E-3 1,22 when we look at how long it takes to cross the sand this solution,
Sand 258,28 3,91E-2 1,03 E1 we can determine that the time is much longer. This happens
Starch + sand 153,72 4,43E-3 6,92E-1 because the higher the density the greater the buoyancy.

CONCLUSIONS
Observing table 3 it can be said that the starch particles have
It can be concluded that starch particles have a greater sphericity
spherical forms than those of sand, this because the sphericity
than sand particles, since they have a factor of 0.82 and 0.62
values of the starch are closer to 1, which indicates a high
respectively. Also, given the times and distances covered by the
sphericity. This can be confirmed by observing Figures 1 and 2
particles, they always have smaller diameters than the real ones.
where it can be observed that the starch particles are actually
According to calculations, starch particles have a diameter
more spherical.
between 66.22 and 162.53 and sand between 129.7 and 258.28
in the ideal states, while in the batch process the diameters of
In table 5 it is observed that the diameters obtained from the
the sand were 100.15 and 153.72. In all cases they were less than
height of the cone used experimentally and the time it took for
the real ones, this errors could be due to errors when times were
the particles to sediment were lower than the actual ones. Since
taken and also when height measures were taken.
experimentally it was obtained that the starch particles had a
diameter between 66.22 micrometers and 162.53 micrometers
Likewise, we were able to determine that the sand particles have
while in theory the particles had a diameter between 212 and
greater buoyancy, because their volume is greater and that if we
250 micrometers. In the same way it happened with the sand
add a sample of starch to the water present in the cone, we
which experimentally determined a diameter of 129.7 and 258.28
change the density, making the buoyancy in the sand greater.
micrometers while they should be between 455 and 300
micrometers. This could be due to experimental errors when
In addition it was determined that the reynolds numbers
taking the time it took the particles in settling.
demonstrate a laminar regime whereby terminal velocities were
calculated correctly. Finally, terminal velocities for the batch case
Additionally observing the table 5 and 6 it can be seen that given
are lower than those obtained in the ideal case.
these diameters the numbers of reynolds in 50% of the
measurements have values lower than 1, so they are considered
in laminar regime and the equation used to determine terminal REFERENCES
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