Powder Technology, 72 (1992) 227-240
Batch sedimentation calculations
sediment
K. Stamatakis and Chi Tien
Deparhent of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244 (USA)
(Received October 14, 1991; in revised form February
Abstract
A general method is presented for predL%g
The method is based on the solution of equations of continuity for both the particle and fluid phases, incorporating
existing correlations for estimating the sedimentation
relative fluid/particle motion and empirical
porosity with the compressible stress. Also presented
polydispersed suspensions.
Introduction
Batch sedimentation is a process in which particles
in a column of suspension are separated through gravity,
from their suspending liquid, to form a sediment. Be-
cause settling provides the operating basis for a ngmber
of solid-liquid separation technologies, such as thick-
ening and clarification, the susceptibility of a suspepsion
to such technologies can be assessed from the dynamic
behavior of the suspension in batch sedimentation.
When a suspepsion of polydispersed partigles is al-
lowed to stand in a column, particles begiq to settle
through the action of gravity. This settling occurs at
different v@ocities, leading to the presence in the column
of a number of suspension zones and a sediment
composed of a number of sublayers of different com-
position. The mgnner in which these different zones
of suspension an@ se&m+ sublayers are formed, their
composition and their rates of growth constitute the
dynamic behavior of batch sedimentation.
Kynch [l] gave the classical theory of batch sedi-
mentation. Kynch’s theory, as further gmp+ied by Rhee
et al. [2], demonstr?ted the uqe of the method of
characteristics for solving the particle conservation equa-
tion in terms of the functional relationship between
sedimentation velocity and particle concentration. De-
pending upon the sedimentation velocity-particle con-
centration relationship, three different types of behavior
were identified: first, a suspension of constant con-
centration falls with constant velocity to meet the rising
sediment; second, a suspension zone of varying con-
centration separates the sediment below from the uni-
0032-5910/92/$5.00
227
- the effect of compressible
3, 1992)
the dynamics of batch sedimentation of polydispersed suspensions.
velocities of different-sized particles, Darcy’s law for the
constitutive expressions relating the sediment’s permeability and
are sample calculations for both monodispersed and
form suspension zone above, and, third, a separation
similar to the second type of behavior occurs except
there exists a concentration discontinuity between the
uniform suspension and varying concentration zones.
Kynch’s theory, however, was formulated for mono-
dispersed suspensions and assumes that the sediment
forked is incompressible. Since the publication of
Kynch’s work nearly four decades ago, a number of
investigators have proposed modifications and exten-
sions of his theory. Dixon [3] argued that the particle
inertial effect, which was not considered in Kynch’s
work, cannot be ignored under certain conditions. More
recently, Auzerais et al. [4] stated that for stable dis-
persion of small particles, the interparticle force is
equivalent to the Qsmotic pressure. Thus, it is necessary
to include 3 second-order term in formulating the
conservatign equation.
Another restriction of the original Kynch theory is
the incempressibility of the sediment. Tiller [5] at-
tempted t@ couple the Kynch theory of particle settling
in the suspension phase with a solution for the com-
pressible skdiment. He suggested that the conservation
equation may be solved using the method of charac-
teristics, with the characteristic lines emanating from
the rising sediment with slopes equal to the sediment’s
growth rate. More recently, both Coucha and Bustos
[6] and Auzerais et al. [4] examined the effect of sediment
compressibility, basing their study, however, on different
assumptions regarding the nature and mechanics of the
compression.
In practical situations, suspensions are likely to be
polydispersed, and sedimentation velocities of particles
0 1992 - Elsevier Sequoia. All rights reserved
228
of different sizes in a polydispersed suspension are
different and dependent upon the composition of the
suspension. Although Kynch’s theory does not apply
to polydispersed suspensions, one may surmise the
dynamic behavior of the batch sedimentation of po-
lydispersed suspensions by using the Kynch theory as
a guideline. Furthermore, one may obtain the batch
sedimentation results directly from the numerical so-
lutions of the conservation equations and various em-
pirical correlations of the sedimentation velocity, as
demonstrated by Stamatakis and Tien [7, 81 and Law
et ~2. [9].
The present study aims at developing a general
algorithm which can be used to predict the sedimentation
of polydispersed suspensions. The method also allows
for the fact that the sediment formed may exhibit
compressible behavior. The algorithm consists of the
solutions of the conservation equations of the suspension
and sediment. It represents a combination of the method
developed previously for incompressible sediments [7,
81 and a method recently developed by the authors
[lo] for treating compressible cake filtration.
Analysis
For simplicity and clarity in explaining the principles
and rationale used in formulating the method for cal-
culating batch sedimentation with compressible sedi-
ments, the following analysis pertains to monodispersed
suspensions. Extension to polydispersed suspensions
will be given in later sections.
Consider a column of suspension of particles of d,
and an initial particle volume fraction (or solidosity)
es0 (or a suspension porosity of 1 -E,). Assuming that
the particles’ density is greater than that of the sus-
pending liquid, particles will settle out because of the
action of gravity to form a sediment at the lower part
of the column. The thickness of the sediment increases
with time, but it also becomes compressed as the
sediment grows thicker. The dynamics of batch sedi-
mentation refer to the growth of the sediment as well
as the ever-changing particle concentration distribution
throughout the column.
The fundamental assumption used in this formulation
is that at any given time, the column is composed of
a sediment and a suspension zone (note that with this
assumption, the clean-liquid layer formed at the top
of the column becomes part of the suspension zone
where the particle concentration is nil). Both the sed-
iment and suspension are composed of particles and
liquid. The major difference between the zones resides
in the fact that in the suspension zone, the interparticle
force is assumed to be absent,* while particles in the
sediment form a network capable of sustaining com-
pressive stresses. These, in turn, determine the extent
of sediment compression. The sediment is characterized
by its threshold value of solidosity, l ,“. In other words,
a sediment is formed only if the particle concentration,
E,, exceeds the threshold value, l s’.
A schematic diagram describing batch sedimentation
is shown in Fig. 1. The coordinate extends from the
bottom of the column upward. The column height is
H. At any instant, the column may be considered to
be composed of two parts, a sediment zone extending
from 0 GZ <L and a suspension zone covering L <z Q H,
with L being the thickness of the sediment.
Continuity equations
During batch sedimentation, the particles and the
suspending liquid move because of gravity. The main
direction of their motion is along the z-axis. If q1 and
q. denote the superficial velocities of the particles and
liquid (or particle and liquid fluxes), respectively,**
then the conservation equations of particles and liquid
are:
(la>
a(i-E)
-=- a4,
at a.2 (lb)
I I
% clear liquid’
___-_---
----i
__-
--____--_-
I l----------------
4
z + AZ
z
H
I 41
suspension
Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of batch sedimentation.
*Use of this assumption, however, does not imply that the
particles do not affect each other’s sedimentation velocities.
**q, and qs are the absolute values of the velocities. Their
directions are those shown in Fig. 1.
 229

The initial and boundary conditions are lowing expression of y was suggested by Garside and
Al-Dibouni [12]:
l=l--E, O<.z<H, t<O (w
q,=q.=O z=O, z=H, t>O 5.1-y
(2b) - =o.lNr&0.9 (11)
y-2.7
~=1.0 z=H, (2c)
The overall continuity requirement can be found by
adding eqns. (la) to l(b) to give Equations of sediment, 0 G z G L
The equations describing the formation and growth
41=49 (3) of sediment and sediment compression given below are
Since the physical laws governing the solid and liquid based on the principle of continuity, Darcy’s law, and
motion in the two zones (suspension and sediment) constitutive equations relating various sediment char-
are different, the equations governing these two zones acteristics (e.g., solidosity and permeability) with the
must be derived separately, as shown below. compressible stress arising from the cumulative drag
forces acting on the successive layers of the sediment’s
Equations of suspension phase, L <z Q H particles. The equations are similar (but not identical)
Particle settling throughout a suspension is often to those used to describe the behavior of compressible
described by the slip velocity, i.e., the relative particle- cake filtration [lo].
to-liquid velocity. Taking into account the fact that Within the sediment, the relative fluid-to-particle
particles settle in the negative z-direction, one has velocity, q,S, is determined by Darcy’s law. q,S is defined
as
48 91
UT= ,, + l--E,, (4)
(12)
where E,, is the solidosity of the suspension (i.e., the
volume fraction of particles). or
Combining eqns. (3) and (4), one has
41s= %I& (13)
41= &s( 1 - Ess)uT (5)
According to Darcy’s law, qIS is given as
From eqn. (la), the continuity equation of the sus-

1
pension phase becomes k ap,
419= - - - +LJ14 (14)
CL [ az
where k is the permeability of the sediment, p and p,
denote, respectively, the viscosity and density of the
es,= Go9 O<z<H t<O (7a) fluid, g is the gravitational acceleration and P, the
z=H, E,,=O t>O (7b) pressure.
A one dimensional force balance of the sediment
The relative sedimentation (slip) velocity, in general,
gives the following relationship:
can be found from a number of empirical correlations
of the format
(15)
uT=F(E)
UC0 where P, is the pressure as before and P, is the
where u, is the terminal velocity of a single particle compressive stress sustained by the particle network
in an infinite fluid medium according to Stokes’ law. of the sediment. P,, according to the hypothesis of
U, is given as Tiller et al. 1131,results from the cumulative drag force
acting on the particles. Equation (14) was derived on
the basis that the inertial effect is negligible.
(9) From eqns. (13), (14), and (15), one can readily
establish a relationship between q. and aP,/&, namely,
The function F(e), according to Richardson and Zaki
[ll], takes the form of
F(E)=E~-’ (10) 1 (16)
where ‘y, an empirical constant, is a function of the Combining eqns. (16), (3), and (lb), the conservation
particle Reynolds number, NRe (=&,,u_ /CL).The fol- equation of the sediment becomes
 Moving boundary conditions of sediment/suspension
(17) interface
To complete the description, the moving boundary
condition of the sediment/suspension interface needs
The boundary conditions of eqn. (17) are
to be derived. First, note that

q1= -q.=o 2 = -E&J,-pJg z=o, t>O (18a) L=O, at t<O (23)

ls=eos z=L, An overall mass balance of particles throughout the

(18b)
entire column gives
Equation (18b) is a statement that a sediment is formed H
if the value of es reaches the threshold value es’.
For compressible sediments, both es and k present 5 dz + % dz = (W(co) (24)
7 s
in eqn. (17) are local functions. In the simplest case, 0 L+

es and k may be assumed to be functions of the local

where es of the first integral is the solution of eqn. (6)
compressible stress, P, (in other words, the sediment
and E,, of the second integral is the solution of eqn.
has no memory). By assuming that the sediment formed
(20). By differentiating eqn. (24) with respect to time,
is similar to filter cakes in cake filtration, one may
one has
write:

(194 Es dt
Od
+
0
+H$ae dz=o
L-$ae dz-es,I,+$
J s
L+
(25)

Wb) By integrating the continuity equation of the sediment

throughout its entire domain, one has
where es0 is the threshold solidosity value for sediment
and k. is the corresponding permeability. p, S and P,
are empirical constants. By using the above expression,
a sediment is characterized by five parameters; namely,
s
L-ae
0
$ ~=%I,-

E:, k,, P,, p and 6. where q,lL- is the superficial liquid velocity at the
Equations (19a) and (19b) are empirical expressions sediment/suspension interface on the sediment side.
and can be used to approximate experimental data over Similarly, by integrating the continuity equation of the
specific ranges of P,. In cases where high degree accuracy suspension zone, one has
of representation is required, these equations may be
H
applied in a segment-wise basis. On the other hand, ks
since they are empirical expressions, they should not -g dz= -qllL+ (27)
s
be used beyond their ranges of applicability. L+
Substituting eqns. (19a) and (19b) into (17), after
rearrangement, one has where q,lL+ is the superficial liquid velocity on the
suspension side of the sediment/suspension interface.
Substituting eqns. (26) and (27) into (26) and rear-
ranging, one has

where _cu. = 4*lr.+-41lL-

(28)
d +%IL+

The liquid velocities on either side of the interface,

according to eqns. (5) or (16), are
(21)
%lL + = 4L+u - %IL+kr(~sIL+) Pa)
The boundary conditions are
q,lL-= $ k, (29b)
ap,_
t>O, z=o,
az
--es0
( 1
I-- +
a
(ps-pl)g (224
Combining eqns. (29a), (29b), (28), and (26), the
z=L- 3 es= E%O, Ps=O (22b) following expressions of dL,/dt are found:
 231

The various particle velocities, qs+ and the liquid

dL Es,,L+(l -~ss,L+bksIL+)
- j; 2 C-k velocity, q,, are
0
-= (304
dt Go- G.lL+ (354

= (35b)
O-GsIL+
Es
Combining eqn. (35a) and (32a), one has
(30b)
M
k,.j 2 L<x<H
Both these expression of dL/dt (namely, eqns. (28) &,i uT,i- ~%,j”T,j
and (30b)) are required in the numerical solutions. at -az [ I
j-1
II
i=l, 2, . . . M
In sum, the governing equations of batch sedimen-
(36)
tation are given by eqn. (6) (with uT given by eqns.
(8) through (ll)), eqn. (20) (with P, given by the Equation (36) is the polydispersed counterpart of eqn.
constitutive relationship of eqn. (19a)) and eqn. (30a) (6).
(or (30b)) as the initial and boundary conditions. The initial and boundary conditions of eqn. (36) are
E,,,~=(E,O)~ O~Z~H t~0 (37a)
Extension to polydispersed suspensions E,,,~=O z=H t>O VJ)
where (E,~)~is the initial volume fraction of the ith type
To extend the analysis to polydispersed suspensions
particle in the suspension.
for the suspension phase, it is necessary to identify the
To estimate the slip velocities, u~,~, i= 1, 2, . . . M,
particle composition. Let E,,~ be the volume fraction
a number of empirical correlations are available [14-171.
of the particles of diameter d,. Then, the total solidosity,
For simplification, one may assume that the correlation
ESSY and the porosity of the suspension, E, are
of Lockett and Al-Habbooby [17] is applicable. UT,i
can thus be found as follows:

uT,I ‘Ew-l
(38)
and UCOi
where u_ is the single-particle terminal velocity of the
E=&*, j
j-1
ith type of particle according to Stokes’ law. u_ and
‘yican be estimated from eqns. (9) and (11) by replacing
assuming that there are A4 different types of particles d, with d,,.
in the suspension, namely j= 1, 2, . . . M. In contrast to monodispersed suspensions, the sed-
The continuity equations of the suspension for iment formed in a polydispersed suspension is composed
L<z<H are of particles of different sizes. Furthermore, since par-
aZ,, = 7a4s.i ticles settle at different velocities, the sediment’s com-
i=l, 2, . . . M position is expected to vary along the z-direction. Thus,
at
for a compressible sediment, both its solidosity and
ae %,
_=-- permeability can be expected to be functions of the
at az compressible stress as well as the particle composition.
To the authors’ knowledge, no such relationship has
where q+ is the velocity of the particle of the ith type.
ever been derived either theoretically or empirically.
The slip velocity of the particle of the ith type, I!J=,~,
In the absence of any such knowledge, the empirical
is
constitutive relationships relating permeability and so-
lidosity with compressible stress used for monodispersed
(33) suspensions (i.e., eqns. (19a) and (19b) are also assumed
to apply to polydispersed suspensions. In other words,
as an approximation, both the total solidosity,
The overall continuity requirement gives E,(E,= CJ%leS,j), and the permeability, k, are dependent
only on P,. With this assumption, the conservative
equation of the sediment is identical to those derived
(34)
earlier, namely, eqns. (20) through (22b) with the
232

constitutive relationships given by eqns. (19a) and (b) The conservation equation of both the suspension
(19b). and sediment are defined in a variable space domain,
The moving boundary condition of the sediment/ that is, 0 <z<L for eqn. (20) and L <z<H for eqn.
suspension interface may be derived in the same way (6) (or eqn. (40)). Using appropriate transformations
as before. By combining eqns. (28), (31), (36b), and for the spatial variable, one may reduce the moving
(16), one has boundary problem to that of a fixed-space domain as
follows.
For the suspension, one introduces a dimensionless
spatial variable, A, as

*= H-Z (42)
H-L

In terms of h and t, eqn. (20) then becomes

(394
Similarly, from eqns. (28), (31), (36b), and (32b),
one has The boundary condition of eqn. (7b) becomes
dL
-= l,,=o, A=0 (44)
dt
For the sediment, the new spatial variable 17 is

L
introduced and defined as

1
ae q =zlL (45)
-pz Wb)
)-I The conservation equation of the sediment (i.e., eqn.
(20)) becomes
and
L=O, t=O (40)
For convenience, the governing equations for both
the mono- and poly-dispersed case are summarized in (46)
Table 1. The boundary conditions (i.e., eqns. (22a) and (22b))
become
Es’EOs 9 ps=o, q=l (47a)
Method of solution B
ap,_Le,D1+ gk(ps-p,)g,
The method of solution for the monodispersed sus-
pension case outlined below can be readily extended
aq -- ( 1 a
q=o (47b)

to the polydispersed case. Details of the method can The suspension/sediment interface condition of eqns.
be found in Stamatakis’ dissertation [Ml. (30a) and (30b), in terms of the new spatial variables
The main features of the method are: h and 7, becomes
(a) To facilitate integrating the conservation equations
of the suspension (i.e., eqn. (6)), a second-order term
is added to the equation, in other words,

(41)
The value of D or, more appropriately, the Peclet
number, Pe =u, H/D, is to be determined by trial and (48b)
error to be explained later.
 233

TABLE 1. Governing equations of batch sedimentation with compressible sediment

(A) Monodispersed suspensions

Suspension phase L<z<H

Z=H, Es’0

Sediment phase

B
aps-- - lO lf 2
z=o
az
s
( 1 a
bs-/a

Moving suspension/interface condition

4slL+(l- 4L+)~T(4L+)
ls0- &+
-~ 4
Go- &+
0
_.
kaps
O( 1
CL z
*
L_-- Go- &+
dL
-=
dt

t=O, L=O, 4s = so9 O<z<H

(B) Polydispersed suspensions

Suspension phase L<z<H
M
Gs=z%ssj E+E,,=l.o
j-1 ’
M

i=l, 2, . . . M
=
j-1

z=H, E,,~=O

Sediment phase O<z<L

z=L, es=%
0
9 Ps=O

z=o 3 -- - lsO 1+ ;
az ( 1 a
h-Plk

Moving suspension/interface condition

_=~_~-
dL
dt
(ql)L+
Go- 4L+ ls0-
0
es
4L+
ko
CL
-g
[( 1 %%%
ae + - L
Plk .-.--i-
6,” - %slL+
[cqJL+-pg &]

qllL+ = 2 %jlL+ UT, jIL+]

( )[ j-1

t=O, L =o, Gs,i = (bh O<z<H

234

where es,= Go, O<Z<L (53)

(4% With the condition of eqn. (53), one may easily
integrate eqn. (52) to yield the relationship between
(c) The method of lines is applied for the numerical
L and t, for small values of t. Thus, at t=t,, one has
integration of eqns. (43) and (46). The domain 0 G 77< 1
is divided into N1 - 1 intervals [or Aq = l/(N, - l)] with
N1 grid points. Similarly, the domain 0 Q h Q 1 is divided L
0
= eso(l
- 0%OhT(E,O)
to (54)
into N2- 1 intervals with Nz grid points (see Fig. 2). 4 - co
By replacing the spatial derivatives of eqn. (43) (or
To obtain the compressive stress (or solidosity) profile
(46)) with appropriate finite difference approximations,
throughout the sediment and since q,zO within the
eqn. (43) (or (46)) may be reduced to a system of
sediments, from eqns. (13) and (14), one has
ordinary differential equations, as shown in Table 2.
(d) The conservation equations of both the suspension
and sediment have a singularity at t = 0. It is, therefore,
aps-
- - e,(p - pJg 0 QZ =do (55)
&!
more convenient to begin the integration of eqns. (43)
and (46) (or more correctly those listed in Table 2) Substituting eqn. (19a) into the above expression,
at an arbitrarily small time, t = to instead of t =O. Thus, one has
it is necessary to obtain the solidosity profiles of both
the suspension and sediment phases and the value of EL --e; 1+; (ps-fi)g (56)
L at t=to. a? ( a)
As shown in the analysis of compressible cake fil-
Integrating the above equations from z =z (orp, =Ps)
tration, when the cake is thin, it may be assumed to
to z=L, (or P,=O), one has
be incompressible [lo]. Similarly, for brief times, the
1-B
sediment may be assumed to be incompressible, or the
liquid flux throughout the sediment negligible, one has
q*=o, O<z<L, t<to (50) p,
( )
1,;

a
-1

= ZO(Ps- PJg(Lo -z) (57a)

1-P
Since q, =0 through the sediment, the conservation
At z=O, P,=P,,,, or
equation of the sediment (i.e., eqn. (17)) becomes
1-B

!!Y_
at
-0 (51)
P,’
( )
l+pF
a
.
-1

= %“h - d&o (5%)

Accordingly, the sediment growth rate (i.e., eqn. (30a)) 1-P
is reduced to Combining eqns. (57a) and (57b), the compressive
stress profile is found to be
(52)
(1+ z)l-+ ;)[(1+ $-P-,l,l (58)
For very small values of time, the particle concen-
tration profile throughout the suspension may be con-
sidered to be the same as the initial profile, or The value of P,, on the compressive stress at t = to,
can be found from eqns. (57b) and (54), or
1 2 3
,_____,____j____--------_________________,____~’

q=l
1,” z=L (59
(a) The solidosity profile can be found by combining
1 2 3 eqns. (19a) and (57c) to give
N2
I-_--I__-_I-____________------__---_-_______I

h=O h=l
z=H z=L Equations (53), (54), and (60) give the initial conditions
(b)
Fig. 2. Finite difference grid systems used in numerical solutions for the integration of the system of ordinary differential
(a) sediment, (b) suspension. equations given in Table 2.
 235

TABLE 2. The system of ordinary differential equations derived from eqns. (41) and (43) whose solution gives the solidosity profiles*

Sediment phase O<z<L or O<q<l

(s)N’= EP, (P.)“’ = 0

d(eS)N’-l _ 1 -2(@J’-yPS’1-‘+(14)N’-‘-‘~(P,~-~
dr LZ (Aq)’
N,-2
(N,-2)(Aq) 5 +r(A)N’-’ “;;;;)
I
d(cs,)’
-=- A (A)‘+‘a(P*Y”-2(A)‘(P,r+(A)‘-‘a(P,Y’-
dt L* (Aq)’

3gi<N,-2
+A(Ay
1 (ESy~~~~~y-l

d(E3*
-=- A (A)*+ 9P,)3 - 2(A)2(PS)2+ (A)’ +la(P$

-
1(d3
-(4’(El)‘=E;
dt L*

[I+011o
(A?)’
3(P,)’ + 4(P# - (P,)’
2(Aq) P. 2(Aq)

= -Leo I

[
1+
pa p
I8(p
@Q’ -&g

A=(eJ-“‘fi
(cS)i+l+(ES)i-l (&l/z= (csY+ (X1
(S)i+ln= 2 2
Aq=l/(N,-1)
Suspension phase L <z <H, O<A<l

(49)’ = 0
d(css)*
-= & (AA) 4 +(B)* $$ + & (eS);;Ay2
dr I I
(.&)i+r - (&’ D (~~,,)‘+‘-2(~~,,)‘+(~,~-’
-d(eJ = 2 (i-l)(AA)% +(B)’
dt I 2(Ah) +(H-L)2 (AA)’

d(C,)NZ 3(EporJ2-4(ESS)N2--- (ES,)+*

-CC f$ (N2 - l)(AA) $ + (B)Nz
dr I I 2(AA)
D (~)Nz-2(~~)Nz-1+(~)N2-1
+yi?Yy (AA)’
AA= l/(N,- 1)

*The superscript refers to the grid point values as shown in Fig. 2. There are N, grid points for the sediment phase and N2 grid
points for the suspension phase.

Results and discussion mentation of a monodispersed suspension and the

second example a bi-dispersed suspension. The con-
The results of two sample calculations are presented ditions used in the calculation are listed in Table 3.
below to demonstrate the capability of the method The first step of the computation is to determine
presented above. The first example considers the sedi- the value of the diffusivity (or the Peclet number, Pe,
236

TABLE 3. Physical properties of suspensions used in the sample than 300, the required computational time increased
calculations
considerably. Taking all these factors into account, value
of Pe = 200 was judged to give reasonable results. Thus,
Variables Symbol Value
the value of Pe = 200 was used in the sample calculation.
Liquid density 1,000 (kg m-‘) The results of the solidosity profile at different times
Liquid viscosity 0.001 (Pa s) are shown in Fig, 4. Three distinct zones exist in the
Particle density 2,500 (kg m-‘) figure. At the top of the column is clear liquid. The
Particle diameter of 75 X lo+ (m) compressible sediment is formed at the bottom of the
monodispersed suspension
column, and between these two zones there is a sus-
Particle diameter of bi-dispersed 50 X 10m6(m)
suspension 8 pension zone within which the solidosity remains es-
Initial suspension solidosity 0.2 sentially constant and equal to the initial suspension
Particle volume fraction of 0.05 solidosity. On the other hand, the local solidosity in
bi-dispersed suspension 0.15 the compressible sediment zone increases with time.
Constitutive equation parameters 0.35 The results of the particle flux, qs, versus es are shown
1 X 10m2 (ma)
in Fig. 5. q. was calculated from eqns. (4) and (5) at
0.1
0.6
z=L with U, estimated from eqns. (8) through (11).
10 (Pa) For this case, the q. versus es curve is convex. According
Total number of grid points in the 80 to Kynch’s theory, the solidosity of the suspension
sediment phase remains the same as its initial value.
Total number of grid points in the 80
N2 The positions of the two interfaces, namely, clear
suspension phase
liquid/suspension and suspension/sediment interfaces,
are shown in Fig. 6 as functions of time. Since the
numerical results give sigmoid-shaped solidosity profiles
“I
Sediment
A

02 .’ J Suspension zone
Clear
Iiquid
-0.1. ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’
0 0.2 04 0.6 0.8 I.0 (L-z),Columndepth(m)
Column depth (ml
Fig. 4. Solidosity profile along the column at different
Fig. 3. Solidosity profile along the column at time r = 80 s after time-monodispersed suspension.
the onset of sedimentation for different Pe numbers - sample
calculation of monodispersed suspension.

to be used in integrating the conservation equation of

the suspension phase (i.e., eqn. (43) or the corresponding
system of ordinary differential equations listed in Table
2). The diffusivity value is determined by trial and error
so that the solidosity profile obtained gives a sharp
front across the discontinuity without instabilities or
physically unrealistic results. The result of this trial
calculation for the first sample calculation is shown in
Fig. 3.
In Fig. 3 the solidosity profiles for f = 80 s are shown.
Increasing the Pe number from 10 to 300 produces a
sharp front across the discontinuity in the clear liquid/
suspension interface. However, with Pea300, the nu-
merical algorithm gives negative solidosity values close Fig. 5. Monodispersed suspension. Particle flux vs. solidosity
to the discontinuity. Furthermore, for values of Pe larger according to eqns. (3) and (4).
 237

+J)--11
P*[(l+
L,= (65)
~~“k-Pl)(l- Pk
Similarly, the ultimate compressive stress and soli-
dosity profiles (Ps versus z and es_, versus z) can be
deduced from eqns. (58) and (60), or

0 100 200 300 4co 500

(1++y+ L-)[(1+y)‘“_1]+1
Ttme.t kc)

Fig. 6. Position of interfaces vs. time-monodispersed suspension. (66)

(l- f-)[ (l+y~-p-l]+l]l’l-n
Es=E.o(
instead of a step-function change in solidosity across (67)
the clean liquid/suspension interface, the interface lo-
cation, z, was estimated according to The sediment thickness as a function of time is shown
in Fig. 7. The thickness indeed approaches the value
.?+
of L, according to eqn. (65). The ultimate solidosity
G., dz = (%I - G.s) dz (61) profile according to eqn. (67) is shown in Fig. 8. Also
1 s
z- L included in Fig. 8 are the solidosity profiles across the
sediment at different times. The solidosity profile ap-
where z- and z+ are the values which give E,,=O and proaches the one given by eqn. (67) as time increases.
E,,= E,,, from the numerical results.
The sediment thickness increases with time until all
06
the particles from the suspension settle into the sed- I n I ’ I I

iment. For this particular case, this stage occurs at

t=400 s. Afterward, the sediment thickness decreases
and asymptotically approaches a constant value. Ul-
timately, the sediment attains a state of equilibrium
without liquid flow. This ultimate condition may be
found as follows.
Since q, vanishes when the sediment reaches its
equilibrium, the results given previously for the ini-
0 1 I I I ( I _
tialization of the numerical calculation can be readily 0 Kxw) 2cxxl 3300 43co
applied because these results were obtained by assuming T1me.t (set)

q,=O. By integrating eqn. (55), one has Fig. 7. Sediment thickness vs. time-monodispersed suspension.

where the subscript 03 denotes the equilibrium state.

The overall particle mass balance gives

s
L..

E, dz=~~H (63)
0

Accordingly, the value of (Ps,J_ is given as

(Pm)m = %0(/A
- PIha (64)
The ultimate sediment thickness, L,, can be found
from eqn. (57b) by replacing P, and Lo with (Ps,), Fig. 8. Solidosity prome across the sediment for different
and (L,), or time-monodispersed suspension.
238

The result of the second sample calculation may be 06 , , , , , , , , ,

summarized as follows. Like the first sample calculation, Sedrwnt

the first step in the numerical solution was to determine
the Peclet number to be used. To that end, the particle
volume fraction profiles of both types of particles across
the column were calculated using different Fe number
values. The results at t= 200 s are shown in Fig. 9.
For these calculations, the same Pe values were used
for both types of particles.
As depicted in Fig. 9, Pe numbers larger than 300
give negative particle volume fraction values near the (4 Column depth(m)

discontinuities. A value of Pe=300 gives reasonable

results for particle volume fraction profiles. This value
06-
was then used to calculate the particle volume fraction Sediment

profiles for different times. The numerical results are s

z5 04-
shown in Fig. 10a (t = 200 s), lob (t = 300 s) and 1Oc
(t=400 s). ?i
5
In batch sedimentation of bi-dispersed suspensions, 9,
+02- zone 2
four distinct zones are present. At the top of the column
a”
is the clear liquid. At the bottom is the sediment.
Clear
Within these two regions are two suspension zones. hquld

Zone 1, which follows the clear liquid zone, consists 0. 1 1

0 02 04 06 0.8 IO
of particles of type 1. Zone 2, which is above the @I Column depth(m)

sediment zone, consists of a mixture of particles of

06 I , , , , , ,
both types. The particle volume fraction in both sus-
pension zones remains constant. In particular, the par- SEdllW”+

ticle volume fractions in suspension zone 2 equals the

initial particle volume fractions.
The positions of the three interfaces are given in
Fig. 11. The locations of the clear liquid/suspension
zone 1 and suspension zone l/zone 2 interfaces are
calculated using an equation similar to eqn. (61). The
particles from zone 2 settle out in the sediment zone Clear l,qu!d
Type 1
after 358 s from the onset of sedimentation. On the 0 ’ ’ 1 ’ ’ 1 ’ ’ ’
0 02 04 06 08 IO
other hand, the particles of type 1 from suspension (cl Column depth (ml
zone 1 settle out in the sediment zone after 532 s from Fig. 10. (a) Particle volume fraction at t = 200 s. (In the sediment
the onset of sedimentation. After that time the sediment zone the volume fraction represents the solidosity of both particle
thickness decreases and attains a constant value asymp- types.) Bi-dispersed suspension. (b) Particle volume fraction at
t=300 s. (In the sediment zone the volume fraction represents
the solidosity of both particle types). Bi-dispersed suspension.
(c) Particle volume fraction at t=300 s. (In the sediment zone
the volume fraction represents the solidosity of both particle
P,:603 types.) Bi-dispersed suspension.

totically. In this particular case, the ultimate sediment

thickness is the same as in the previously examined
case of monodispersed suspension, since the initial
solidosity and the other parameters are the same in
both cases.
The results given above demonstrate rather clearly
-0053010 020 Ox) 040 050
that the method presented here is capable of predicting
Column depth (ml
the dynamics of batch sedimentation including the effect
Fig. 9. Bi-dispersed suspension calculations particle volume frac- of the compression of sediments. The method is general
tion in the suspension zone for various Pe numbers used at and is capable of handling both the monodispersed and
t=200 s. polydispersed cases. For the monodispersed case, the
 239

Pe defined as u _ HID
41 liquid flux
qs particle flux
41s defined by eqn. (12a)
4si ith type particle flux
t time
to an arbitrary small time
UT slip velocity defined by eqn. (4)
uTi slip velocity of the ith type of particles
UCC terminal velocity
0 200 400 600
T1me.t kc) ucai terminal velocity of the ith type of particle
Z axial height
Fig. 11. Positions of interfaces versus time for Bi-dispersed
suspension.
Greek letters
exponent of eqn. (19a)
method gives results consistent with what may be de-
defined by eqn. (21)
duced from Kynch’s theory. The method, like most of
exponent of eqn. (10)
the numerical algorithms for solving the hyperbolic
exponent of eqn. (38)
equations, requires that the particle flux (gS) versus the
increments of the spatial variable 77 and A,
solidosity curve (E,,) is convex (or, more generally,
respectively
satisfies the so called Lax entropy condition [2]). For
exponent of eqn. (19b)
the case where the Lax entropy condition is not obeyed,
porosity
for compressible sediment, the problem may be solved,
solidosity of sediment
in principle, using the approximation procedure outlined
solidosity of suspension
by Fitch [19], although extremely demanding compu-
volume fraction of the ith particle in a poly-
tation can be expected.
dispersed suspension
initial suspension solidosity
initial value of the volume fraction of the ith
List of symbols
type particle of a polydispersed suspension
value of ls at zero compressive stress
A equal to (E,)+@ solidosity of a sediment at equilibrium
equal to -& [E,( 1 - l defined as zlL
B S,)UT]
SS defined as H-ZIH-L
D difTusivity liquid viscosity
d, particle diameter liquid density
d,i diameter of the ith type particle particle density
g gravitational acceleration defined by eqn. (49)
H column height
k sediment permeability
ko value of k at zero compressive stress References
L height of sediment
LO value of L at t=fO
1 G. J. Kynch, Trans. Faraday Sot., 48 (1952) 166.
L ultimate sediment height 2 H.-K. Rhee, R. Aris and N. Amundson, First Order Partial
M number of types of particles in a polydispersed Differential Equations: VZ Theory and Applications, Prentice-
suspension Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1986.
NI, Nz total number of grid points in the sediment at 3 D. C. Dixon, Sep. Sci., 12 (1977) 171.
suspension, respectively 4 F. M. Auzerais, R. Jackson and W. B. Russel, J. Fluid. Mech.,
195 (1988) 437.
defined as pld,u, /p F. M. Tiller, AIChE J., 27 (1981) 823.
equal to 6 - /3 F. Coucha and M. C. Bustos, AZChE J., 33 (1987) 312.
parameter present in the constitutive equations K. Stamatakis and C. Tien, Powder Techno/., 56 (1988) 105.
(see eqns. (19a) and (19b)) K. Stamatakis and C. Tien, C/rem. Eng. Sci., 44 (1989) 445.
liquid pressure H.-S. Law, J. H. Masliyah, R. S. MacTaggart and K. Nan-
dakumar, Chem. Eng. Sci., 42 (1987) 1527.
compressive stress 10 K. Stamatakis and C. Tien, Chem. Eng. Sci., 46 (1991) 1917.
P, at z=O 11 J. F. Richardson and W. N. Zaki, Trans. Inst. Chem. Eng.,
ultimate value of P,, 32 (1954) 35.
240
12 J. Garside and M. R. Al-Dibouni, Znd. Eng. Chem. Process
Des. Dev., 16 (1977) 206.
13 F. M. Tiller, C. S. Yeh, C. D. Tsai and W. Chen, 4th World
Filtration Congress, Ostend, Belgium, 1986.
14 J. H. Masliyah, Chem. Eng. Sci., 34 (1979) 166.
15 M. S. Selim, A. C. Kothavi and R. M. Turian, AZChE J., 29
(1983) 1029.
16 V. S. Patwardhan and C. Tien, Chem. Eng. Sci., 40 (1985)
1051.
17 M. J. Lockett and H. M. Al-Habbooby, Trans. Inst. Chem.
Eng., 51 (1973) 281.
18 K. Stamatakis, Ph.D. Dksertution, Syracuse University, Syr-
acuse, NY, 1990.
19 B. Fitch, AZChE J., 29 (1983) 940.