Department of Chemical Engineering

BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Experiment No: 04

Study of an evaporator

Course No: ChE 304

Course Name: Chemical Engineering Laboratory-III

Submitted to: Dr. Md Iqbal Hossain

Associate Professor,
Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET

Partners’ ID:
Submitted by:
1802047
Irfanur Rahman
Student No: 1802046 1802048

Group No: A2 (4) 1802049

1802050

Date of performance : 05/12/22

Date of submission : 12/12/22

Summary
Pressure is an intensive property and doesn’t depend on mass. In liquid the pressure is proportional
to the liquid height. But for dry and non-sticky particle pressure is not a function of height
anymore. It is seen that the pressure doesn’t increase linearly with height rather pressure becomes
constant after some time. It means the mass we added in the column Isn't imposing its full pressure
on the basement. Due to particle interlocking the lateral pressure increases as a result it effects
small on the basement pressure.
The main objective of this experiment is to observe the phenomena that applied pressure is not
equal to base pressure & to verify the well-known Janssen equation.
The whole experiment can be divided into two parts. At first part we determined the size of the
particle using sieve analysis. Then we Weighted 1kg of mass from our given sand particle then we
poured it into glass column. Then we took the reading of the weight we observed at the base of
glass column & height of the glass column.
At second part we determined the mass flow rate and observed funnel type flow while the sand
was coming through a hole.

In our experiment the bulk density varied from 2697.84 𝑘𝑔/𝑚 to 650.74 𝑘𝑔/𝑚 in a 6-inch
diameter column. Theoretical base pressure varied from 512.32 to 1228.39 𝑁/𝑚 and
Experimental base pressure varied from 537.24 to 3223.42 𝑁/𝑚 . The angle of internal friction
was found out to be 𝛼 = 20.52°. A graph was generated using the experimental and theoretical
data of base pressure. Although the experimental and theoretical base pressure graph follows the
same trend there were some deviations.
Experimental Setup

Figure: Experimental setup of observing pressure in masses of particles.

Observed Data
Diameter of first vertical column, D1 = 6 inch
Diameter of second column, D2 = 4 inch
Opening diameter of second column, D0 = 0.5 inch
Particle density, 𝜌 = 2.63 g/mL
Particle size mesh range = −35 + 60

Table 1: Table for the mass of sand added to the column obtained from the pan balance and for
the height of sand in the column.
Observation No Cumulative mass of Mass of sand in column Height of sand
added sand (Kg) (Kg) in column (in)

1 1 1.00 0.80
2 2 1.85 2.20
3 3 2.70 3.40
4 4 3.40 4.80
5 5 4.00 6.40
6 6 4.40 7.80
7 7 4.70 9.60
8 8 5.00 10.90
9 9 5.25 12.70
10 10 5.50 14.20
11 11 5.70 15.50
12 12 5.80 17.00
13 13 5.90 18.40
14 14 6.00 19.90

Table 2: Table for the mass of sand collected from the second column, time of collection and
height of sand in the column.
Observation No Mass of collected Time of collection(sec) Height of sand
sand(kg) in column(in)

1 5.2 122 18
Calculated Data
Table 3: Table for the calculated data of bulk density, experimental base pressure, theoretical
base pressure, and theoretical lateral pressure.
Observation Mass of sand Height of sand Bulk density Experimental Theoretical
No in column(kg) in column(m) (kg/m3) base pressure base pressure
(Nm-2) (N/m2)

1 1.00 0.020 2697.84 537.24 512.32

2 1.85 0.056 1814.91 993.89 873.81
3 2.70 0.086 1713.92 1450.54 1191.69
4 3.40 0.122 1528.78 1826.61 1389.50
5 4.00 0.163 1348.92 2148.95 1501.30
6 4.40 0.198 1217.49 2363.84 1536.62
7 4.70 0.244 1056.65 2525.02 1501.09
8 5.00 0.277 990.03 2686.19 1500.49
9 5.25 0.323 892.20 2820.50 1449.79
10 5.50 0.361 835.95 2954.81 1420.88
11 5.70 0.394 793.69 3062.25 1392.52
12 5.80 0.432 736.35 3115.98 1331.30
13 5.90 0.467 692.06 3169.70 1280.24
14 6.00 0.505 650.74 3223.42 1228.39

Result
Table 4: Table for the results i.e., the calculated values of angle of internal friction, constant
pressure ratio and coefficient of internal friction.
Name of Parameter Calculated Value
Angle of internal friction, α 20.52°
Constant pressure ratio, k’ 0.48
Coefficient of internal friction, μ’ 0.374
Graphical Representation

3500.00

3000.00

2500.00
Base Pressure (Nm-2)

2000.00

1500.00

1000.00

500.00 Experimental Base Pressure

Theoretical Base Pressure

0.00
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600
Height of sand in column (m)

Figure 2: Plot of base pressure vs. height of sand in the column.

Discussion
Storage designing is an important part of every industry. As we have limitation in space, we can’t
use space as much we can. But we can increase height as we have enough space at top. So, Storage
design is an important factor in every industry as they store raw material and raw material can
decompose without proper storage.
As increasing height is more space friendly then increasing area. So, we need to design the storage
containers that way which includes use height of storage. While designing the basement pressure
doesn’t increase linearly with height. So, if we increase basement material without calculation it
will increase the costing of every industry. We need to calculate the allowable thickness that should
be given to design stored containers such as bins, hoppers, silos etc.
The pressure in masses of particle can be divided into two types.
i) Basement pressure
ii) Lateral pressure
Lateral pressure increases with the column height, but basement pressure remains constant after
certain height. Due to particle interlocking, the pressure doesn’t increase linearly as the storage
height is increased. The main objective of this experiment is to observe the phenomena that applied
pressure is not equal to base pressure & to verify the well-known Janssen equation.
The whole experiment can be divided into two parts. At first part we determined the size of the
particle using sieve analysis. Then we Weighted 1kg of mass from our given sand particle then we
poured it into glass column. Then we took the reading of the weight we observed at the base of
glass column & height of the glass column.
At second part we determined the mass flow rate and observed funnel type flow while the sand
was coming through a hole.
Probable reason of errors
1. The height we measured with an analogue scale can have some errors while taking reading.
2. The weight we measured with an analogue scale can have some errors while taking reading.
3. The sand may haven’t fall uniformly throughout the column which can occur some error taking
the average of all height.
4.Not uniform substance center of masses changes. So, the mass we observed from the weight
scale which may have some error.
5. While calculating the mass flow rate there can be some error while measuring the time.
Safety Consideration
1.Mask should be used while doing the whole experiment as it includes sand & many other dusts.
2 Lab coat and shoes must be used to avoid direct contact of the dust with body.
3. Goggles must be used otherwise sand particle can go inside eye directly.

Industrial Relevance
1.While designing storage containers such as bins, hoppers, silos etc. we need to calculate the
allowable thickness that should be given as lateral pressure increases with height.
2.While designing the basement pressure doesn’t increase linearly with height. So, if we increase
basement material without calculation it will increase the costing.
3. As increasing height is more space friendly then increasing area. So, we need to design the
storage containers that way which includes height increase.
Appendix
Sample calculation
Sample calculation for observation no. 1
Diameter of first vertical column, D1 = 6 inch = 0.1524 m
Diameter of second column, D2 = 4 inch = 0.1016 m
Opening diameter of second column, D0 = 0.5 inch = 0.0127 m
Radius of the column, r1 = 3 in = 0.0762 m

Particle density, 𝜌 = 2.63 g/mL = 164.18 lb/ft3

Particle size mesh range = −35+60

. .
Particle Diameter, 𝐷 = =0.00033 inch

× × .
Cross-sectional area of large column, 𝐴 = = = 0.018242 𝑚

Calculation of bulk density and experimental base pressure:

Weight of sand in column, W = 1.00 kg
Height of sand in column, H = 0.8 in = 0.02 m
.
Bulk density of sand, 𝜌 = = = 2697.84 kg/m3
× . × .

× . × .
The base pressure of sand, 𝑃 = = = 537.24 N/m2
.

Calculation of base pressure by Janssen Equation:

For n = 3,
Calculation of angle of internal friction:
Mass of collected sand, m = 5.2 kg
Time of collection, t = 122 s
.
The solid discharge rate, ṁ = = = 0.0426 kg/s = 5.64 lb/min
Now, the empirical discharge rate equation is given by,
𝜌 ×𝐷
𝑚̇ =
(6.288 × tan 𝛼 + 23.16) × 𝐷 + 1.889 − 44.9

164.18 × 0.5
𝑜𝑟, 5.64 =
(6.288 × tan 𝛼 + 23.16) × (0.00033 + 1.889) − 44.9

𝑜𝑟, tan 𝛼 = 0.3742

𝑜𝑟, 𝛼 = 20.52°

So, Angle of internal friction, αm = 20.52°

Ratio of pressures, 𝑘 = = 0.48

Co-efficient of friction, μ′ = tan αm = 0.3742

Theoretical base pressure calculation:

Theoretical base pressure,
𝑔
𝑟 𝜌
𝑔
𝑃 = 1−𝑒
2𝜇 𝑘
0.0762 × 9.8 × 2697.84 × . × . × .
= 1−𝑒 .
2 × 0.3742 × 0.48
= 504.6 N/m2