CHEMICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER

SEDIMENTATION
Sedimentation - is the separation of particles from fluid due to the effect of a body force, which may be either
gravity or centrifugal, on the buoyant mass of the particle.

Gravity Sedimentation
A. Dilute Sedimentation/Free Settling – is the case where particles are able to settle as individuals.
B. Hindered Settling/Thickening – terms used to describe behavior at higher concentrations where
sedimentation rates are largely related to concentration rather than to particle size.

A. Dilute Sedimentation /Free Settling

Consider the motion of small solid particles in a liquid:

FE

FE = External / Gravitational force

Solid
+g FB = Buoyant Force
FD = Drag Force

FB FD

Applying Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion

ma du
F = ; a = ;  F = FE − FB − FD (to move downward)
gc dt

 F = resultant force tending to move the particle downward

m = mass of the particle ; gc = gravitational constant
a = acceleration of the particle ; t = time
u = velocity of the particle relative to fluid
m du
= FE − FB − FD
g c dt
mg C U 2 AP  m g
FE = ; FD = D ; FB = •
gc 2gc  P gc
g = acceleration due to gravity ; CD = drag coefficient
AP = projected area for particle in the direction of flow
ρ = liquid density; ρP = particle density

m du mg m g CDU Ap 
2

= − −
g c dt g c  p g c 2g c

m du m  g CDU 2 AP  
= g − − 
g c dt g c  P 2m 

du g ( P −  ) C DU 2 AP 
= −
dt P 2m

If we start from the moment the body is released from its position of rest, the falling of the body consist
of two periods : the period of accelerated fall and the period of constant velocity fall. The initial period is
very short, of 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 free settling or terminal velocity, Ut.. At Ut, a=du/dt=0 and the
equation becomes
 g ( P −  ) CDU t Ap 
2

c= −
P 2m
1
 2g ( P −  ) 2
Ut =  
 AP  P CD  
 
For spherical particles: m = VP  P = DP  P ; AP =
3
DP
2

6 4
Vp = volume of the particles; Dp = particle diameter
For non-spherical particles, use the formula for spherical particles provided CD is
evaluated at proper sphericity and Dp is known.
1
  3 2
 2 g ( P −  ) 6 DP  P 
Ut =  •
  P CD   2 
DP
 4 

1
 4 g ( P −  )DP  2
Ut =  
 3CD  
Approximate equation for CD of sphere : CD = b1/NRen ; NRe = ρDPUt/µ
CD= b1µn/(ρnDPnUtn) ; NRe = Reynolds number ; b1,n = constants
µ= viscosity of the liquid

1
 2
 
 4 g ( P −  )DP 
Ut = 
  
 3 b1 
n
 
   n DP nU t n  

1
 4 g ( P −  )DP 1+ n
 2
n
Ut =   •Ut 2
 3b1 
n 1−n


1
1−n  4 g ( P −  )DP1+n  2
Ut 2 = 
 3b1 
n 1−n

1
2
 4 g ( P −  )DP 1+ n
 1−n 1
2 = 1
Ut = 
2
 ;
1− n
 3b1 
n 1−n
 2−n
2
1
 4 g ( P −  )DP1+n  2−n
Ut =  
 3b1 
n 1−n


For Stoke’s Law Region (NRe<1): b1 = 24; n = 1

1
 4 g ( P −  )DP1+1  2−1
Ut =  
 3(24) P
1 1−1


g ( P −  )DP
2
Ut =
18
For Intermediate Range (2<NRe <500): b1 = 18.5; n = 0.6
1
 4 g ( P −  )DP1+0.6  2−0.6
Ut =  0.6 1−0.6 
 3(18.5)  

0.153g 0.71 ( P −  )
0.71 1.14
DP
Ut =
 0.43  0.29

For Newton’s Law Region (500<NRe): b1 = 0.44; n = 0

1
 4 g ( P −  )DP1+0  2−0
Ut =  0 1−0 
 3(0.44)  
1
 g ( P −  )DP  2
U t = 1.74 
  
If Reynold’s number is not known, the range/region of motion can be determined by solving the value of
K:
1
 g ( P −  )DP  3
K = DP  
  

If K < 3.3, Stokes Law applies; 3.3 < K < 44, Intermediate law; k> 44, Newton’s Law