CLP302: Mass Transfer and
Fluid Particle Mechanics
Lab Semester II, 2021 – 2022
Experiment Name Sedimentation
Group Day Tuesday (Group 2)
Subgroup Number 9
Date/day of submission 02/03/2022
Date/day of common doubt session
for experiment
Names of group members Ayush Sharma 2019CH71069
Jatin Kumar 2019CH70174
Rishita Rahate 2019CH70191
Shivam Mehrol 2019CH10132
Name of lab instructor Prof. AN Bhaskarwar
Marks (to be filled by instructor/TA)
AIM:
1. To investigate slurry settling behavior..
2. To graph the relationship between height and time, as well as velocity and
concentration.
INTRODUCTION:
Sedimentation is the process of separating a suspension or slurry into a transparent
liquid that lies above a solid residue and is practically particle-free. It's made out of
a thick sludge with a high solids concentration. As a result, it is a phase separation
process.
Sedimentation is a water treatment method that uses gravity to remove suspended
materials from the water. In the still water of lakes and seas, solid particles
entrained by turbulence of moving water can be naturally removed via
sedimentation.
THEORY:
The sedimentation process occurs when particles that are heavier than the liquid
medium sink to the bottom of a liquid and produce sediment (or concentrated
slurry). Two basic forces act on particles during gravity settling: apparent mass,
such as gravity, and drag force, caused by particle motion in a fluid. The motion of
the particles can be described as impeded settling when there are many particles
settling. The impending effects are greatly influenced by the volumetric
concentration of solids, Cv, and the relative motion of particles may be calculated
using the Richardson and Zaki relation, published in 1954, assuming that the
settling particles' terminal velocity is known,
vth =vt (1-Cv)m
Where,
vth is the hindered settling velocity of the solid particle
vt is the terminal velocity of the solid particle
Cv is the volumetric concentration of the solids
The empirical exponent for the particle is m. To find m, Reynolds and Wallis
(1969) presented the following correlation,
m = 4.7 (1 + 0.15Rep0.687) / (1 + 0.253Rep0.687)
Where Rep is the Particle Reynolds number (v is the kinematic viscosity) as
defined below,
Rep =vtd/v
The solid is equally dispersed in the liquid at the start of a batch sedimentation
process, with a total suspension depth of H0 (Fig.1). After a short time, the solids
have settled into a clear liquid zone, zone A, and a settled solids zone D. A thin
transition layer, zone C, sits above zone D, with a solids concentration that ranges
from the original pulp to zone D. Zone B, which is above zone C, has a
homogeneous concentration that is equivalent to the initial concentration. The
borders between zones D and C and C and B aren't always evident; however, the
boundary between zones A and B is frequently distinct. As settlement progresses,
the depth of zones D and A increases. Zone C has a relatively constant depth, while
zone B has a decreasing depth. Zone B eventually vanishes, leaving only zones C
and D for solids. When just two separate zones, A and D, remain, the
sedimentation process ends.
From the bottom of the flask, one can readily determine the height of the interface
of clear liquid and slurry at various times. The settling rate can be seen on a plot of
this interface height (between zones A and B) vs time. The settling rate is nearly
constant throughout the first three stages. When zone B vanishes, the settling rate
slows and gradually diminishes until the ultimate height is reached. In certain
circumstances, the interface height continues to decrease for several hours, leaving
only an approximation of the final height.
EXPERIMENT SET-UP:
Three 500 mL measuring cylinders make up the experimental equipment. To
observe the height of layers clearly, light sources are installed on the board. The
weight of CaCO3 powder is measured using a weighing machine. To mix the
CaCO3 on water, beakers and glass rods are provided. To take time readings
according to height, a stopwatch is supplied.
PROCEDURE:
1. Determine the bulk density of the powder.
2. Three different suspensions having different concentrations (vol %) are
prepared in water. They should have their concentrations in the range 0-5
vol%, 5-10 vol% and 10-15 vol%.
3. The accurate amount of material and water required to prepare the slurry is
calculated.
4. A uniform concentration is obtained by shaking the 3 cylinders upside down,
closing the top with your hand.
5. Let the solids settle undisturbed. Note down the time required for the
interface of slurry – clear water (you need good adjustment of your eye) to
move down the cylinder until no further level fall is noticed.
6. Data has to be taken until the liquid–solid interface remains steady.
7. Curve of height(H) Vs time(t) is plotted.
8. Calculate velocity (Ups) and concentration(C).
9. Convert the above height vs time curve to velocity vs concentration.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. All the weight in measuring cylinders should be taken accurately.
2. CaCO3 powder should be well mixed into water.
3. Reading of the height of the interface (slurry-clear water) should be taken
from top to bottom.
4. If the interface is not visible, a little amount of KMnO4 should be added.
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:
Bulk Density of CaCO3 = 0.61 g/ml
Observation Table 1 : Sample Preparation
Vol Vol of Vol of Bulk Density Weight of Water taken (ml)
Frac C Suspension (ml) CaCO3 (ml) (g/ml) CaCO3 (g)
Sample 1 0.03 250 7.5 0.61 4.575 242.5
Sample 2 0.06 250 15 0.61 9.15 235
Sample 3 0.09 250 22.5 0.61 13.725 227.5
Observation Table 2 : Height vs Time Data
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
Time (s) Height (mm) Time (s) Height (mm) Time (s) Height (mm)
0 250 0 250 0 250
30 222 30 228 30 239
60 198 60 210 60 230
120 148 120 165 120 200
180 110 180 160 180 180
210 96 210 150 210 160
240 75 240 130 240 150
270 60 270 110 270 140
300 43 300 90 300 120
330 31 330 75 330 110
360 23 360 70 360 100
420 20 420 50 420 80
450 15 450 30 450 70
510 7 510 26 510 40
540 6 540 20 540 30
Sample calculations:
Velocity of particle Ups = ΔH/Δt
Concentration at any height C = CoHo/H
Here Co is the initial concentration of the sample and Ho is initial height.
Co = initial mass/total volume
For Sample 1:
Co = 4.575/250
= 0.0183 g/ml
C(t = 0) = CoHo/H
= 0.0183*250/250
= 0.0183 g/ml
C(t = 30) = 0.0183*250/222
= 0.0206 g/ml
And,
Ups = ΔH/Δt
= (250 - 222)/(30-0)
= 0.933 mm/s
Ups = ΔH/Δt
= (250 - 198)/(60-30)
= 1.733 mm/s
And we can calculate similarly for other samples…
Sample 1
Time (s) Height (mm) Concentration Velocity
0 250 0.0183 0
30 222 0.02060810811 0.9333333333
60 198 0.02310606061 1.733333333
120 148 0.03091216216 1.7
180 110 0.04159090909 2.333333333
210 96 0.04765625 5.133333333
240 75 0.061 5.833333333
270 60 0.07625 6.333333333
300 43 0.1063953488 6.9
330 31 0.1475806452 7.3
360 23 0.1989130435 7.566666667
420 20 0.22875 3.833333333
450 15 0.305 7.833333333
510 7 0.6535714286 4.05
540 6 0.7625 8.133333333
Sample 2
Time (s) Height (mm) Concentration Velocity
0 250 0.0183 0
30 228 0.02006578947 0.7333333333
60 210 0.02178571429 1.333333333
120 165 0.02772727273 1.416666667
180 160 0.02859375 1.5
210 150 0.0305 3.333333333
240 130 0.03519230769 4
270 110 0.04159090909 4.666666667
300 90 0.05083333333 5.333333333
330 75 0.061 5.833333333
360 70 0.06535714286 6
420 50 0.0915 3.333333333
450 30 0.1525 7.333333333
510 26 0.1759615385 3.733333333
540 20 0.22875 7.666666667
Sample 3
Time (s) Height (mm) Concentration Velocity
0 250 0.0183 0
30 239 0.01914225941 0.3666666667
60 230 0.01989130435 0.6666666667
120 200 0.022875 0.8333333333
180 180 0.02541666667 1.166666667
210 160 0.02859375 3
240 150 0.0305 3.333333333
270 140 0.03267857143 3.666666667
300 120 0.038125 4.333333333
330 110 0.04159090909 4.666666667
360 100 0.04575 5
420 80 0.0571875 2.833333333
450 70 0.06535714286 6
510 40 0.114375 3.5
540 30 0.1525 7.333333333
RESULTS:
1. For each of the three samples, we successfully plotted height vs. time and
velocity vs. concentration graphs in this experiment.
2. We see that the Height vs. Time graph looks to be linear at first, then the
slope reduces and the graph eventually becomes horizontal.
3. There appear to be numerous peaks for velocity on the velocity versus
concentration graph.
4. After a peak, there are multiple data points where the velocity remains
constant for a period of time (or concentration).
5. There is missing data because data points were not taken at regular height
intervals, such as every 10 mm decline in height.
DISCUSSIONS:
1) Discuss the role of terminal velocity and Reynolds number.
In this experiment, terminal velocity and Reynolds number are quite important.
The terminal velocity of particles in this case refers to the final velocity that a
particle achieves while travelling downwards in a fluid under the action of gravity.
The terminal velocity of a single particle is impacted by the other particles in our
sludge, causing the particle's settling velocity to be hampered, resulting in the
hindered settling velocity of particles. The terminal velocity, which is the intrinsic
velocity that is then altered by external causes, aids in the calculation of this
velocity.
The multiplication factor needs to be multiplied by the terminal velocity to
obtain the hindered settling velocity that has exponential power, m. The Reynolds
number is the primary way to calculate this exponential power, therefore it plays a
crucial part in the final computation of our desired hindered settling velocity. The
greater the Reynolds number, the greater the value of m and the lower the hindered
terminal velocity.
2) What is the difference between terminal velocity and hindered velocity?
The maximum velocity an object or particle experiences during its fall through a
fluid is called terminal velocity.
1. This term or phenomena is normally used only when the fluid is clear, that is,
when there are no other particles or other factors that may alter it.
Hindered Velocity: 1. It is the velocity of a particle as it falls through a fluid that
has been changed or impacted by the presence of other particles, preventing the
particle from reaching its maximum achievable velocity.
2. When a huge number of particles impact the fall of a particle, such as in
suspensions or fluids with high chemical concentrations, this is utilised.
3. Due to the obstacles the particle encounters along its drop, it is always less than
the terminal velocity.
3) Discuss the settling behaviour of particles.
Particles settle at a constant rate in an ideal suspension since there aren't many
interactions between them because they're separated by a large distance, nullifying
any existing effects. However, as the settling process progresses, the settling rate
will begin to drop due to the reduced distance between the particles, allowing
inter-particle interactions to have a greater impact on the settling velocity. Beyond
a certain point, the settling rate decreases because particles are unable to travel
downward owing to external pressures from other particles and a lack of
interparticle space, making fluid upward movement unimportant, stabilising the
falling particle. As a result, the sediment maintains a steady height.
At the experiment, we can see that the rate of settling is quite fast in the beginning,
but as the settling progresses, we can see that the rate rapidly reduces owing to the
many causes mentioned above.
SOURCES OF ERROR:
● Due to the least count of the measuring cylinder, the height level may not
have been read accurately.
● It's possible that the powder's weight was calculated incorrectly.
● The amount of KMnO4 applied may be excessive.
● Since the diameter of the measuring cylinder is small, the wall effect may
have an influence on the measurements.
● If the cylinder is disturbed during the settling process, the height values may
be incorrect.
● The powder may not have been thoroughly blended with water.
● When measuring the heights of the cylinders, there may be human and
parallax mistake.
● Before sedimentation, the solution may not have been thoroughly mixed.
SCOPE OF IMPROVEMENT:
● Higher number of calibration tests be conducted can be conducted
● The cylinder must be maintained at a stable ground level and surroundings
while settling since little disturbances in our system may alter our findings.
● To reduce measurement and other mistakes, we might repeat the previous
experiment under the same circumstances numerous times.
● More study should be done to determine optimal mixing settings that will
decrease settling inside the beakers during mixing.
● Experiments may be carried out by altering environmental factors such as
water temperature, ambient temperature, and pressure. This will allow us to
investigate the function of these many factors in the sedimentation process in
more depth.
