UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING

B.Sc. Engineering Honours Degree

Semester 5 Examination: 2013 (’10 Batch)

CH 3112: PARTICULATE SYSTEMS

Time allowed: 3Hours Oct 2013

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Graph papers will be provided

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1. This paper consists of 6 questions in 6 pages.
2. Answer FIVE Questions.
3. The maximum attainable mark for each question is given in brackets.
4. This examination accounts for 70% of the module assessment.
5. This is a closed book examination. Please leave all notes and other material outside the
examination hall
NB: It is an offence to be in possession of unauthorised material during the
examination.
6. Only calculators approved and labelled by the Faculty of Engineering are permitted.
7. Assume reasonable values for any data not given in or with the examination paper.
Clearly state such assumptions made on the script.
8. In case of any doubt as to the interpretation of the wording of a question, make suitable
assumptions and clearly state them on the script.
9. This paper should be answered only in English.
Question 1
(a) A spherical sand particle of diameter “d” is undergoing free settling in water. Show
that laminar conditions prevails if;
ଵ/ଷ
36μଶ
d<ቈ ቉
ρ୤ ሺρୱି ρ୤ ሻg
Where; ρs - density of sand
ρf - density of water
µ - viscosity of water
g - acceleration due to gravity

Following equations with usual notations can be used without proof.

dଶ ሺρୱ − ρ୤ ሻg
U୲ =
18μ

U ୲ ρ୤ d
Re =
μ
Re < 2 for laminar flow [40]

(b) Calculate the diameter of the largest sand particle which prevails laminar conditions [15]
when undergoing free settling in water.

Data; Density of sand - 2650 kg/m3

Density of water - 1000 kg/m3
Viscosity of water - 0.001 Ns/m2

(c) Determine the terminal settling velocity (Ut) of a 100 µm diameter spherical sand
particle undergoing free settling in water. [15]

(d) Calculate the settling velocity of a mono-disperse suspension (U) containing 20%
(vol) sand particles of diameter 100 µm in water.

Suspension settling velocity is given by;

U = U୲ ሺ1 − φሻସ.଺ହ [15]
Where; φ - solid volume fraction

(e) Give reasons for the deviation of the suspension settling velocity (in part (d)) from
free settling velocity (in part (c)). [15]

Page 2 of 6
Question 2
(a) Hot air leaving a fluidized bed grain dryer contains fine dust particles of 10µm equivalent
diameter. A reverse flow cyclone is to be designed to remove dust from air before it is
released to the atmosphere. Due to space limitations height to diameter (H/D) ratio of the
cyclone is to be maintained at 4. If the air flows at 3000 m3/h and 100 ºC determine
suitable cyclone dimensions using customized design procedure.

Assume pressure drop across the cyclone ∆P = 500 N/m2. Necessary data and charts are [40]
given below (Fig.s Q2(a) to (c)).

(b) Calculate the cyclone efficiency. [45]

(c) “Pressure drop across the cyclone affects the cyclone efficiency”. Explain. [15]
Data:
Density of dust = 1105 kg/m3
Density of the gas = 1.1 kg/m3
Viscosity of the gas = 1.8 x 10-5 Ns/m2

The following equations are valid for the cyclone;

D = 0.75 Q1/2 P = D4∆P/ 8 ρg Q2

d 2 ρ s v i (n + 1) η = 1 – exp[-2 (C ψ)1/(2 n + 2)]

ψ=
18µ ⋅ D
Where,
vi – inlet gas velocity, m/s n – vortex component
∆P – pressure drop across the cyclone, N /m2 Q – gas flow rate, m3/s
ρg -Gas density, kg/m3 ρs - Particle density, kg/m3

Fig Q2 (a) Cyclone Dimensions

Fig. Q 2 (b):
): Cyclone design parameters Vs Pressure drop factor P

Fig Q 2 ((c): Vortex component vs. Cyclone Diameter

Question 3
(a) (i) Show that for a spherical particle the specific surface area (S),

S = 6/dp

(ii) Show that for a non-spherical particle;

1) S = 6/ψ dv , 2) ψ = dv2/ds2 , 3) ψ = {4.84 Vp2/3}/Sp

dp – diameter
dv – equivalent volume diameter
ds – equivalent surface diameter
Sp and Vp – surface area and volume of the particle
ψ - sphericity [30]

(b) Briefly describe the principles of coagulation and flocculation. [15]

(c) Thickeners and clarifiers are widely used in industry to remove solid particles from
liquids. Explain the mechanism of separation in continuous thickeners and clarifiers
and the effect of coagulation and flocculation on their performance. [15]

(d) A solid feed is to be classified into three size fractions. Pumps, flow meters, flow
controllers, pipes with different diameters and water are available. Assuming solid
feed contains only one type of material explain how you would use principles of
elutriation and above mentioned items for the classification of particles. [40]

Question 4
(a) dV ∆PA
Starting with equation = prove that the general equation for a constant [30]
dt αµL(1 − ε )
dV a
pressure filtration process could be written in the form as = .
dt V+b
Where; a and b are constants.

(b) In a CaCO3.H2O filtration process, the pressure rises to a maximum allowable limit [70]
of 300 kN/ m2 during the first 20 min of the operation and 1/3rd of the total filtrate is
obtained. The filtration takes a further 60 min to complete at constant pressure. After
sometime a filter aid was introduced that reduces the cloth resistance to 1/5th of its
former value. If the filter is operated for 60 min only at constant pressure at the same
∆P value of 300 kN/ m2, calculate the percentage increment of filtrate that is
obtained due to the application of the filter aid.

Page 5 of 6
Question 5
(a) Starting form first principles, prove that the volumetric feed rate of a sedimenting [20]
bowl centrifuge rotating at a speed ω could be given by

Q = Ut ⋅
( )
π r22 − r12
lω 2
 r
g ln 2  
 r1 
(b) A centrifuge with a bowl 1.5 m long and 0.75 m diameter is used to clarify an
aqueous poly disperse suspension. When the centrifuge is operating at a rpm of 1800,
a liquid layer thickness of 0.1 m is formed. The solid and liquid specific gravities are
2.8 and 1.0 respectively and the liquid viscosity is 0.001 Pa.s.

(i) Calculate the feed rate that would separate 5 µm diameter particles completely. [30]
(ii) If the bowl speed is increased to 2,500 rpm, what would be the feed rate? [20]
(iii) If the presence of 25 % of fine particles of a specific particle size is acceptable at the
higher speed, calculate this particles size. [30]

Question 6
(a) Use the Ergun’s equation for laminar flow conditions to get an expression for [40]
minimum fluidization.
L 2
∆P = 3 (1 − ε ) s 2 kµ ⋅ v
ε
Where:
∆P = Pressure difference across the bed
v = Velocity of the upward fluid stream
L = Height of the bed
s = Specific surface area of the particle
µ = Viscosity of the fluid
ε = Voidage of the bed
150
k is a constant =
36

(b) 12 kg of catalyst particles having a diameter 1 mm and sphericity 0.85 are filled to a [60]
column of diameter 0.2 m and a height 0.5 m. A liquid stream having a velocity of 6
mm/s is used in this catalytic bed to perform a conversion reaction. Determine whether
the particles have achieved the minimum fluidization velocity as required by the
reaction. Neglect any bed expansions.

Data:
Density of catalyst particles = 1500 kg/m3
Density of the liquid = 1000 kg/m3
Viscosity of the liquid = 0.001 kg/m.s

--- END OF PAPER ---

Page 6 of 6