Motion of Particles in Fluid

J. F. Richardson, J. H. Harker, J. R. Backhurst, Coulson and

Richardson’s Chemical Engineering, Volume 2: Particle Technology
and Separation Processes, edisi ke 5, 2002
3.2. FLOW PAST A CYLINDER
AND A SPHERE
 The flow of fluid relative to an infinitely long
cylinder, a spherical particle and a non-spherical
particle is considered, followed by a discussion of
the motion of particles in both gravitational and
centrifugal fields.
 For a non-viscous fluid flowing past a cylinder,
as shown in Figure 3.1, the velocity and direction
of flow varies around the circumference. Thus at
A and D the fluid is brought to rest and at B and C
the velocity is at a maximum.
 Since the fluid is non-viscous, there is no drag,
and an velocity gradient = ∞ exists at the surface
of the cylinder.
.

 If the fluid is incompressible and the cylinder is

small, the sum of the kinetic energy and the
pressure energy is constant at all points on the
surface according to Bernoulli equation.
 The kinetic energy is a maximum at B and C
and zero at A and D, so that the pressure falls
from A to B and from A to C and rises again
from B to D and from C to D; the pressure at A
and D being the same.
 No net force is therefore exerted by the fluid on
the cylinder.
 It is found that, although the predicted pressure
variation for a non-viscous fluid = results
obtained with a viscous fluid over the front
face, very considerable differences occur at the
rear face.
 When a viscous fluid flows over a surface,
the fluid is retarded in the boundary layer (layer
where there is velocity gradient) which is formed
near the surface and that the boundary layer
increases in thickness with increase in distance
from the leading edge.
 If the pressure ➘ in the direction of flow, the
retardation of the fluid ➘ and the boundary layer
is thinner in consequence.
 If the pressure ➚, however, the retardation ➚
and the thickness of the boundary layer
increases more rapidly.
 The force acting on the fluid at some point in
the boundary layer may then be sufficient to
cause flow in the reverse direction with the
result that an eddy current is set up.
 A region of reverse flow then exists near the
surface where the boundary layer has
separated as shown in Figure 3.2.
 At any position after separation point, the
velocity rises from zero at the surface to a
maximum negative value and falls again to
zero.
Boundary layer
 It then increases in the positive direction until it
reaches the main stream velocity at the edge of
the boundary layer, as shown in Figure 3.2.
 At PQ the velocity in the X-direction is zero and
the direction of flow in the eddies is clockwise
 For the flow of a viscous fluid past the cylinder,
the pressure decreases from A to B and also
from A to C so that the boundary layer is thin
and the flow is similar to that obtained with a
non-viscous fluid.
 From B to D and from C to D the pressure is
rising and therefore the boundary layer rapidly
thickens with the result that it tends to separate
from the surface
 If separation occurs, eddies are formed in the
wake of the cylinder and energy is thereby
dissipated and an additional force, known as
form drag, is set up.
 In this way, on the forward surface of the
cylinder, the pressure distribution is similar to
that obtained with the fluid of zero viscosity.
 On the other hands, on the rear surface, the
boundary layer is thickening rapidly and pressure
variations are very different in the 2 cases
 Therefore, there are two force components: the
skin friction (or viscous drag) and the form drag
(due to the pressure distribution).
 At low velocity, no separation of the boundary
layer takes place, although as the velocity is
increased, separation occurs and the skin friction
gradually decreases
 If the velocity of the fluid is very high, however,
or if turbulence is artificially induced, the flow
within the boundary layer will change from
streamline to turbulent before separation takes
place.
 Since the rate of transfer of momentum through
a fluid in turbulent motion >> that in a fluid
flowing under streamline conditions in boundary
layer, separation is less likely to occur, because
the fast-moving fluid outside the boundary layer
is able to keep the fluid within the boundary
layer moving in the forward direction.
 If separation does occur, this takes place
nearer to D in Figure 3.1, the resulting eddies
are smaller.
 Turbulence may arise either from an increased
fluid velocity or from artificial roughening of the
forward face of the immersed body.
 Prandtl roughened the forward face of a sphere
in which sand particles have been stuck to the
front face, as shown in Figure 3.3, with the
result that the drag was considerably reduced.
 For the case of creeping flow, that is flow at very
low velocities relative to the sphere (Re′ < 0.2),
the drag force F on the particle was obtained by
Stokes who solved the hydrodynamic equations
of motion, the Navier–Stokes equations, to give:
 .
 Equation 3.1, which is known as Stokes’ law is
applicable only at very low values of the particle
Reynolds number and deviations become
progressively greater as Re' increases.
 Conditions of flow relative to a spherical
particle are similar to those relative to a
cylinder, except that the flow pattern is 3D.
 The flow is characterised by the Reynolds
number Re'(= udρ/μ) in which ρ is the density
of the fluid, μ is the viscosity of the fluid, d is
the diameter of the sphere, and u is the
velocity of the fluid relative to the particle.
3.3. THE DRAG FORCE ON A
SPHERICAL PARTICLE
 3.3.1. Drag coefficients
 The most satisfactory way of representing the
relation between drag force and velocity
involves the use of two dimensionless groups.
 The first group is the particle Reynolds number
Re' (= udρ/μ).
 The second is the group R'/ρu2, in which R' is
the force per unit projected area of particle in a
plane perpendicular to the direction of motion.
 For a sphere, the projected area is that of a
circle of the same diameter as the sphere.

1. R'/ρu2 is a form of drag coefficient, often

denoted by the symbol CD'. Frequently, a drag
coefficient CD is defined as the ratio of R' to
1/2 ρu2.
 When the force F is given by Stokes’ law
(equation 3.1), then:

 Equations 3.1 and 3.5 are applicable only at

very low values of the Reynolds number Re'
(Re′ < 0.2) (region a in Figure 3.4)
 .

turbulent BL
Laminar BL and Laminar BL and
Laminar BL and and reduced
slight separation large separation
no separation separation area
 The relation between R'/ρu2 and Re' is
conveniently given in graphical form by means
of a logarithmic plot as shown in Figure 3.4.
 The graph may be divided into four regions as
shown.
 Region (a) (10−4 < Re' < 0.2)
 In this region, the relationship between R'/ρu2
and Re' is a straight line of slope −1
represented by equation 3.5:
 .
 Region (b) (0.2 < Re' < 500–1000)
 In this region, the slope of the curve changes
progressively from −1 to 0 as Re' increases.
 Several workers have suggested approximate
equations for flow in this intermediate region.
 Dallavelle(6) proposed that R'/ρu2 may be
regarded as being composed of two component
parts, one due to Stokes’ law and the other, a
constant, due to additional non-viscous effects.
 Schiller and Naumann(7) gave the following
simple equation which gives a reasonable
approximation for values of Re' up to about
1000:
 .

 Region (c) (500–1000 < Re' < 2 × 105)

 In this region, Newton’s law is applicable and
the value of R'/ρu2 is approximately constant:
 .
 Region (d) (Re' > 2 × 105)
 When Re' exceeds about 2 × 105, the flow in
the boundary layer changes from laminar to
turbulent and the separation takes place nearer
to the rear of the sphere.
 The drag force is decreased considerably and:
 A comprehensive review of the various
equations proposed to relate drag coefficient to
particle Reynolds number has been carried out
by Clift, Grace and Weber(8).
 One of the earliest equations applicable over a
wide range of values of Re' is that due to
Wadell (9) which may be written as:
 .
 Subsequently, Khan and Richardson(10) have
examined the experimental data and suggest
that a very good correlation between R'/ρu2
and Re' , for values of Re' up to 105, is given
by:
 3.3.2. Total force on a particle
 The force on a spherical particle may be
expressed using eq’s 3.5, 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11
for each of the regions a, b, c and d as follows.

 The projected area of the particle is πd2/4.

Thus the total force on the particle is given by:
 This is the expression originally obtained by
Stokes(1) already given as equation 3.1.
 In region (b), from equation 3.9:

 This relation (in region c) is often known as

Newton’s law.
 Alternatively using equation 3.13, which is
applicable over the first three regions (a), (b)
and (c) gives:
 3.3.3. Terminal falling velocities
 If a spherical particle is allowed to settle in a
fluid under gravity, its velocity will increase until
the accelerating force is exactly balanced by the
resistance force.
 Although this state is approached exponentially,
the effective acceleration period is generally of
short duration for very small particles.
 If this terminal falling velocity is such that the
corresponding value of Re' < 0.2, the drag force
on the particle is given by equation 3.15.
 If the corresponding value of 0.2 <Re' < 500,
the drag force is given approximately by
Schiller and Naumann in equation 3.17
 Under terminal falling conditions, velocities
rarely correspond to Re'  105, with the small
particles generally used in industry.
 The accelerating force due to gravity is given
by:

 where ρs is the density of the solid.

 The terminal falling velocity u0 corresponding to
region (a) is given by:
. 0: subscript for
terminal velocity

The terminal falling velocity corresponding to

region (c) is given by:
 In the expressions given for the terminal falling
velocity, the following assumptions are held:
 (a) That the settling is not affected by the
presence of other particles in the fluid. This
condition is known as “free settling”. When the
interference of other particles is appreciable, the
process is known as “hindered settling”.
 (b) That the walls of the containing vessel do
not exert an appreciable retarding effect.
 From equations 3.24 and 3.25, it is seen that
terminal falling velocity of a particle in a given
fluid becomes greater as both particle size
and density are increased.
 If for a particle of material A of diameter dA and
density ρA, Stokes’ law is applicable, then the
terminal falling velocity u0A is given by equation
3.24 as:
 .
 Similarly, for a particle of material B:

 The condition for u0A = u0B is then:

 If Newton’s law is applicable, equation 3.25

holds and:
 For equal settling velocities:

 In general, the relationship for equal settling

velocities is:

 where S = 1/2 for the Stokes’ law region, S = 1

for Newton’s law and, as an approximation, 1/2
< S < 1 for the intermediate region.
 This method of calculating the terminal
falling velocity is satisfactory provided that it
is known which equation should be used for
the calculation of drag force or drag coefficient.
 It has already been seen that the equations
give the drag coefficient in terms of the particle
Reynolds number Re'0 (= u0dρ/μ) which is itself
a function of the terminal falling velocity u0
which is to be determined.
 The problem is most effectively solved by the
generation of a new dimensionless group
which is independent of the particle velocity.
 The resistance force per unit projected area of
the particle under terminal falling conditions R'0
is given by (applicable for any Re'):
.

= drag force/(cross-sectional area) at

terminal velocity (using subscript 0)
This is used to determine terminal velocity if the flow regime is
known. In this case the regime is Stokes’ law regime

. Applicable at
terminal velocity

=2/3 Ga

CD'0.Re'02 = 2/3 Ga
 Using equations 3.5, 3.9 and 3.10 to express
R'/ρu2 in terms of Re' over the appropriate
range of Re', then:
Re0’ < 0.2

0.2<Re0’ <
1000
Re0’ > 1000

 (R'0 /ρu02)Re'02 = 2/3 Ga can be evaluated if the

properties of the fluid and the particle are
known.
Derived from Derived from Schiller and Derived from
Stokes’ law (3.5) Naumann eq. Law (3.9) Newton’s law (3.10)
 In Table 3.4, values of log Re' are given as a
function of log{(R'/ρu2)Re' 2} and the data taken
from tables given by Heywood (11), are
represented in graphical form in Figure 3.6.
 In order to determine the terminal falling
velocity of a particle, (R'0/ρu02)Re'02 is
evaluated and the corresponding value of Re'0,
and hence of the terminal velocity, is found
either from Table 3.4 or from Figure 3.6.
 To be
used to
determine
terminal
velocity
To be
used to
determine
particle
diameter
 Example 3.1
 What is the terminal velocity of a spherical
steel particle, 0.40 mm in diameter, settling in
an oil of density 820 kg/m3 and viscosity 10 mN
s/m2? The density of steel is 7870 kg/m3.
 Solution
 For a sphere:
 3.8. MOTION OF PARTICLES IN A
CENTRIFUGAL FIELD
 In most practical cases where a particle is moving
in a fluid under the action of a centrifugal field,
gravitational effects << and may be neglected.
 The equation of motion for the particles is similar
to that for motion in the gravitational field, except
that the gravitational acceleration g must be
replaced by the centrifugal acceleration rω2,
where r is the radius of rotation and ω is the
angular velocity.
Centrifugal
force
 analogous to the particle
motion in gravitational field

g replaced by r2
 For a spherical particle in a fluid, the equation
of motion for the Stokes’ law region is:

Particle acceleration
 As the particle moves outwards, the Particle velocity
accelerating force increases and therefore it
never acquires an equilibrium velocity in the
fluid.
It works normal the fluid
Centrifugal force drag force rotating flow and away
from the axis of rotating
bouyancy force fluid flow
.

 The solution of equation 3.112 takes the form:

For Stokes flow

 If the particle starts (t = 0) at a radius r1 and
at zero velocity (dr/dt) = 0, then by making
derivation to equation 3.114:
.
 2 B.C’s. (r and
 . dr/dt at t=0, r=r1)
for 2 eq’s to get
2 constants B1
and B2
3.114

 Hence r/r1 may be directly calculated at any

value of t , although a numerical solution is
required to determine t for any particular value
of r/r1.
 If the inertial term on the right-hand side of
equation 3.108 is neglected (there is force
balance), then:

only r is variable

 Thus, the instantaneous velocity (dr/dt) is equal

to the terminal velocity u0 in the gravitational
field, increased by a factor of rω2/g.
 Equation 3.109 modifies to:

 Thus the time taken for a particle to move to a

radius r from an initial radius r1 is given by:

For Stokes flow

 For a suspension fed to a centrifuge, the time
taken for a particle initially situated in the liquid
surface (r1 = r0) to reach the wall of the bowl (r
= R) is given by:
.
analogous to the
particle motion in
gravitational field
 Bowl centrifuge
 Feed added to spinning bowl
 Sedimentation of particles
occurs in centrifugal field
 Flow is upwards at a particular
rate which determines
residence time t in device
 Separation happens if
sedimentation velocity is high
enough for particle to reach side
of bowl within residence time
 Large particles have higher
settling velocities than small  The residence time t is equal to
particles the volume of liquid V m3 in the
 Both large and small have small bowl divided by the feed
Re numbers (<1) and obey volumetric flow rate q in m3/s.
Stokes’ Law
The volume V = πb(r22-r12)