Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

1.

GIVEN:
Dp = 400μm REQUIRED:
T = 422K vt
ρP = 1030 kg/m3 Distance, x @ 5 seconds
P = 101.32 kPa

SOLUTION:

From Geankoplis Appendix A.3-3:

Density of air at 422K: 0.838 kg/m3

Viscosity of air at 422K: 2.37 x 10-5 kg/m-s

*Trial 1:
𝑘𝑔
𝐷𝑝 𝑣𝑡 𝜌 0.0004 𝑚 (0.838 𝑚3 ) 𝑣𝑡
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = = = 14.14𝑣𝑡
𝜇 𝑘𝑔
2.37𝑥10−5
𝑚∙𝑠
Assume 𝑣𝑡 = 1 m/s; then 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 14.14. Solving for CD:

𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
4(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌)𝑔𝐷𝑃 4 (1030 3 − 0.838 3 ) (9.81)(0.0004 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑚
𝐶𝐷 = √ =√
2𝐶𝐷 𝜌 𝑘𝑔
3 (0.838 3 ) 𝐶𝐷
𝑚

6.4255
𝐶𝐷 = ; 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑡 = 1
𝑣𝑡2

𝐶𝐷 = 6.4255
*Trial 2:

Assume 𝑣𝑡 = 10 m/s; then 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 141.4. Solving for CD:

6.4255
𝐶𝐷 = ; 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑡 = 10
𝑣𝑡2

𝐶𝐷 = 0.0642
Plotting points and getting intersection:
Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

At intersection:

𝑁𝑅𝑒 ≈ 21
𝐶𝐷 ≈ 2
Using Newton’s Law:

4𝑔𝐷𝑃 (𝜌𝑃 − 𝜌) 4(9.81)(0.0004𝑚)(1030 − 0.838)

𝑣𝑡 = √ =√
3𝐶𝐷 𝜌 3(2)(0.838)

𝑚
𝑣𝑡 = 1.79
𝑠
Distance travelled after 5 seconds:
𝑚
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑣𝑡 (𝑡) = 1.79 (5𝑠)
𝑠
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 8.96 𝑚
Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

2.

GIVEN:
DP = 200μm
T = 294.3 K
P = 101.32 kPa
ρP = 900 kg/m3
hsett.chamber = 0.457 m
REQUIRED:
tsettle

SOLUTION:

Using linear interpolation to find for density and viscosity properties of air at 294.3 K:

From Geankoplis A.3-3 @311K: ρ = 1.137 kg/m3; μ = 1.90 x 10-5 kg/m-s

@283.2K: ρ = 1.246 kg/m3; μ = 1.78 x 10-5 kg/m-s

Viscosity:

1.90𝑥10−5 − 1.78𝑥10−5
𝑦 − 1.78 𝑥 10−5 = (𝑥 − 283.2)
311 − 283.2
𝑦 = 4.3165𝑥10−8 𝑥 + 5.5755𝑥10−6
Density:
1.137 − 1.246
𝑦 − 1.246 = (𝑥 − 283.2)
311 − 283.2
𝑦 = −3.9208𝑥10−3 𝑥 + 2.3563
So, @294.3 K:

𝜇 = 1.8278 𝑥 10−5

𝜌 = 1.2024
*Trial 1:
𝑘𝑔
𝐷𝑝 𝑣𝑡 𝜌 0.0002 𝑚 (1.2024 𝑚3 ) 𝑣𝑡
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = = = 13.15𝑣𝑡
𝜇 −5 𝑘𝑔
1.8278𝑥10
𝑚∙𝑠
Assume 𝑣𝑡 = 1 m/s; then 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 13.15. Solving for CD:

𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
4(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌)𝑔𝐷𝑃 4 (900 3 − 1.2024 3 ) (9.81)(0.0002 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑚
𝐶𝐷 = √ =√
2𝐶𝐷 𝜌 𝑘𝑔
3 (1.2024 3 ) 𝐶𝐷
𝑚
Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

1.9554
𝐶𝐷 = ; 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑡 = 1
𝑣𝑡2

𝐶𝐷 = 1.9554
*Trial 2:

Assume 𝑣𝑡 = 0.1 m/s; then 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 1.315. Solving for CD:

1.9554
𝐶𝐷 = ; 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑡 = 0.1
𝑣𝑡2

𝐶𝐷 = 195.54
*Trial 3:

Assume 𝑣𝑡 = 10 m/s; then 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 131.5. Solving for CD:

1.9554
𝐶𝐷 = ; 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑡 = 10
𝑣𝑡2

𝐶𝐷 = 0.019554

At intersection:

𝑁𝑅𝑒 ≈ 12
𝐶𝐷 ≈ 5
Using Newton’s Law:
Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

4𝑔𝐷𝑃 (𝜌𝑃 − 𝜌) 4(9.81)(0.0002𝑚)(900 − 1.2024)

𝑣𝑡 = √ =√
3𝐶𝐷 𝜌 3(5)(1.2024)

𝑚
𝑣𝑡 = 0.6253
𝑠
At h = 0.457 m, tsettle is:
0.457 𝑚
𝑡= 𝑚
0.6253 𝑠

𝑡 = 0.73 𝑠
Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

3. m

GIVEN:
Size range = 0.075 – 0.65mm
T = 293.2 K
SGsilica = 2.65
SGgalena = 7.5
REQUIRED:
v and size range for pure galena
SOLUTION:
From Geankoplis Appendix A.2-3 and A.2-4
𝑘𝑔
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 998.23
𝑚3
𝜇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1.0050 𝑥10−3
The terminal velocity of the particles should be more than the velocity of the water so they would settle.
To separate pure galena from silica, the velocity of the water should be at a rate where all silica particles
can be separated. To do this, the velocity of the largest particle of silica should be equal to the required
velocity of water and the minimum size of galena should correspond to the velocity.

Solving for density using SG:

𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑔
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎 = 2.65 (1000 𝑘𝑔 3
𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟) = 2650 3
𝑚 𝑚
𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑔
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑎 = 7.5 (1000 𝑘𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟) = 7500 3
𝑚3 𝑚

Assuming Stokes’ law settling, where maximum Reynolds number occurs at largest particle size and
density:
𝑚 −4 2
𝑔𝐷𝑃2 (𝜌𝑃 − 𝜌) (9.8 𝑠 2 )(6.5𝑥10 𝑚) (7500 − 998.23)
𝑣𝑡 = =
18𝜇 18(1.0050𝑥10−3 )
𝑚
𝑣𝑡 = 1.488
𝑠
The Reynolds number will be:
−4 𝑚
𝐷𝑃 𝑣𝐴𝑡 𝜌 6.5𝑥10 𝑚 (1.488 𝑠 ) (998.23)
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = =
𝜇 1.0050𝑥10−3
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 960.68 (𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡)
Pure fraction of A is at ranges 𝐷𝑃3 → 𝐷𝑃4. Using Newton’s law for turbulent region:
𝐷𝑃3 𝜌𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎 − 𝜌
=
𝐷𝑃4 𝜌𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑎 − 𝜌
𝐷𝑃3 2650 − 998.23
=
6.5𝑥10−4 𝑚 7500 − 998.23
𝐷𝑃3 = 1.65𝑥10−4 𝑚
Velocity of water using the low limit size of pure galena particles: (Since it is turbulent, the CD is constant
at a value of 0.44)
2
4𝑔𝐷𝑝3 (𝜌𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑎 − 𝜌) 4(9.8)(1.65𝑥10−4 𝑚)2 (7500 − 998.23)
𝑣=√ =√
3𝐶𝐷 𝜌 3(0.44)(998.23)
𝑚
𝑣 = 2.81 𝑥 10−3
𝑠
Arrieta, Lai-chi V.

4.
Schematic Diagram of a Thickener:

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of a Thickener (Source: https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/how-a-

thickener-works)

A thickener is an equipment that separates the liquid from the solid particles. Thickeners
concentrate the solids by removing liquids and settling the solids on the bottom of the tank. Gravitational
acceleration causes the solids to fall towards the bottom of the thickener. The basic operation of a
thickener feeds the slurry to a feed well. The clarified liquid accompanied by water, overflows to a trough
while the solids settle at the bottom of the tank. These solids are then withdrawn at the underflow at the
center. Rake arms are installed in the tank to rake the settled solids and move them towards the center
for collection. Flocculent is also added to the feed which is used to help in thickening of the solids. The
flocculent is accompanied by constant mechanical mixing.
The main difference between a thickener and a clarifier is their final product to be collected. A
thickener concentrates solids to be collected while a clarifier is used to purify liquids to be collected.

References
Michaud, L. D. (2016, July 13). How a Thickener Works. Retrieved from 911Metallurgist:
https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/how-a-thickener-works

Mine Engineer. (2012). Dewatering Equipment-Removing Solids From Liquid-Solid Mixtures (Slurries).
Retrieved from Mine Engineer: http://www.mine-
engineer.com/mining/thickener.htm#:~:text=A%20thickener%20is%20a%20machine,slower%20
settling%20and%20compaction%20rate.

Savona Equipment. (2018, August 9). Thickeners — Types, Working Principle & Applications. Retrieved
from Medium: https://medium.com/@marianna_56839/thickeners-types-working-principle-
applications-3d92a3725e8a