UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering
B.Sc. Engineering

Semester 4 Examination

CH 2150 Particle Technology

Time allowed: 3 Hours December 2017

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
This paper contains 6 questions on 9 pages.
This examination accounts for 60% of the module assessment.
This is a closed book examination.
Answer any FIVE questions.

All questions carry equal marks. (The maximum marks attainable are indicated in square
brackets.)

Assume reasonable values for any data not given in the examination paper. Clearly state such
assumptions made on the script.
If you have any doubt as to the interpretation of the wording of a que
question,
stion, make your own
decision, but clearly state it on the script.

Electronic/Communication devices are not permitted. Only equipment allowed is a calculator

approved and labeled by the Faculty of Engineering.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
None.
Continued………..
 CH 2150

Question 1
a) Explain the term hindered settling with respect to suspensions. Briefly describe three main
reasons for hindered settling in suspensions containing very fine particles. [20 marks]

b) A suspension of uniform spherical particles in a liquid is allowed to settle and, when the
suspension settling velocity is measured as a function of solid volume fraction in the
suspension (φ), the following results are obtained:

Solid volume fraction (φ) Settling velocity (Um/s)

0.35 1.10
0.25 2.19
0.15 3.99
0.05 6.82

i) The Richardson and Zaki equation is valid for suspension settling. Prepare a suitable
graph on the log-log paper provided (Fig. Q1 a) and hence determine the terminal settling
velocity (Ut) of the particles at infinite dilution. [30 marks]
ii) If the Stokes’ law (Laminar flow) is applicable, calculate the diameter of the particles in
the suspension. [15 marks]

Particle density, ρs = 2600 kg/m3, Liquid density, ρf = 980 kg/m3

Liquid viscosity, µ = 0.1Ns/m2.

The following equations with usual notations can be used.

Richardson and Zaki - empirical equation for suspension settling;

U = Ut( 1 - φ)n

For Laminar flow;

d 2 (ρs − ρ f ) g
Ut =
18µ
c) An elutriator system shown in the Fig. Q1(b) is used to classify a mixture of valuable
mineral. The particles are spherical and the size range in the mixture is 20 to 150 µm. The
diameters of the column A and column B are 0.4 m and 1m respectively. If the water
flow rate to the system is 3 m3/h, assuming free settling under laminar flow, determine
the size ranges of the mineral particles in streams 1 and 2.

Density of the mineral = 2300 kg/m3

Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
Viscosity of water = 0.001 Ns/m2 [35 marks]

Page 2 of 9
 CH 2150

Question 2

a) Packed bed columns are widely used for many unit operations in process industries. The
Fig. Q 2 (a) shows the variations of pressure drop across the bed as a function of gas
velocity. With reference to the figure,

i) Name the points X, Y and describe their significance in packed column design.[15 marks]
ii) Explain the effect of liquid flow on the pressure drop for a given gas flow rate.[10 marks]

b) A 4 m high column packed with 25 mm ceramic Raschig rings is used in a gas absorption
process carried out at 101.3 kN/m2 and 293 K. The liquid and gas flow rates are 3.47 and 0.6
kg/s and their properties are approximately equal to those of water and air respectively.

i) What is the column diameter required if the pressure drop across the column is to be
maintained at 42 mm of water per m of packing? [40 marks]
ii) The liquid rate is now increased to 7 kg/s. What is the approximate pressure drop
across the column? [20 marks]
iii) By how much may the liquid flow rate be increased before the column floods?
[15 marks]
3
Density of the liquid = 1000 kg/m
Density of gas = 1.2 kg/m3

Flooding curve and the data tables are given in Fig. Q2(b) and Table Q2 respectively.

Questions 3
a) For laminar flow conditions the terminal settling velocity of a particle is given by:

d12 ( ρ s − ρ f ) g
Ut =
18 µ
Starting from the above equation, show that for a sedimenting centrifuge the feed rate (Q)
is given by,
Q = UtΣ
Where :Ut – the terminal settling velocity of the particles under gravity
π (r22 − r12 )lω 2
∑= g ln(r2 / r1 )
r2 and r1 are the outer and inner radius of liquid in the centrifuge respectively.
l -length of the centrifuge
ω-speed of the centrifuge in rad/s [30 marks]

Page 3 of 9
 CH 2150

b) A sedimenting centrifuge is used to classify an aqueous suspension containing particles of

density 2500 kg/m3. All the particles of diameter greater than 2 µm should be removed from
the suspension. Calculate the maximum possible feed rate to the centrifuge. [40marks]

c) If the maximum possible rate calculated in (b) is doubled, calculate the smallest particle size
that gets completely separated from aqueous suspension. [20 marks]

d) If the above separation is to be achieved in a rectangular gravity settling tank what should be
the area of the tank that enables handing the same feed rate as calculated in part (b).
[10 marks]

Data; Centrifuge bowl diameter = 220 mm

Inner liquid layer diameter = 30 mm
Bowl length = 500 mm
Speed of rotation = 10,000 rpm
Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
Viscosity of water = 0.001 Ns/m2

Question 4
a) 20 liters of filtrate were collected from a leaf filter in 14 mins under a constant pressure
filtration. If the resistance of the filter medium can be neglected what volume of filtrate is
produced during the last minute of filtration?
You may use following equation with usual notations without proof. [50 marks]

dV ∆PA2
=
dt  lA 
αµβ V + 
 β

b) A membrane is a selective barrier that permits the separation of certain species in a fluid by
combination of sieving and sorption diffusion mechanism. Separation is achieved by
selectively passing (permeating) one or more components of a stream through the membrane
while retarding the passage of one or more other components.
i) Name four pressure driven membrane processes. [10 marks]
ii) Briefly explain the transport of selective molecules through the membrane by sorption
diffusion mechanism. [10 marks]
iii) Give three applications for microfiltration process. [10 marks]
iv) Why the molecular weight cut-off is important specification in selecting ultrafiltration
membrane? [10 marks]
v) Why the applied pressure for reverse osmosis membrane should be greater than osmotic
pressure? [10 marks]

Page 4 of 9
 CH 2150

Question 5

a) Briefly define nanotechnology with its widely accepted size scale. [20 marks]

b) Name 3 analytical equipments which you observed during the SLINTEC visit and explain
the scientific theory behind the technique in details with schematic drawings if
necessary. [35 marks]

c) Pulmoddai beach sand deposit is one of the major mineral reserves in Sri Lanka. The
deposit is rich with Ilmenite (FeTiO2) which can be used to produce value added TiO2
particles.

i) Mention one industrial application of TiO2 nanoparticle and explain the value of
producing TiO2 from our own Ilmenite deposit. [15 marks]

ii) Explain the process of converting Ilmenite to TiO2. [30 marks]

Question 6
a) Scrubbers are widely used for gas cleaning in industries. With the aid of a rough sketch
explain the separation mechanism and importance of each part of the unit in a wetted
impingement baffle scrubber. [20 marks]

b) The size distribution by mass of the dust carried in a gas is shown in the Table Q6. The
dust burden is 18 g/m3 and the gas flow rate is 0.3 m3/s. A reverse flow cyclone is used to
remove dust from the gas stream. d50 value is 17.5µm.

Table Q 6
Size Range (µm) 0-5 5-10 10-20 20-40 40-80 80-160
Mass(per cent) 10 15 35 20 10 10

i) Plot the cumulative % undersize graph in Fig Q 6 for the above size distribution.
[15 marks]
ii) Explain the term d50 – 50 percent cut off size for a cyclone. [10 marks]
iii) Calculate the fractional efficiency for each size fraction. [15 marks]
iv) Calculate the overall cyclone efficiency and the mass flow rate of the dust emitted
with the gas outlet. [15 marks]
v) Determine the size distribution of the dust particles emitted with the exit gas stream.
[25 marks]

Fractional efficiency for the cyclone is given by the following equation with usual notations;
1
ߟ݂‫ ܿܽݎ‬,݅ =
1 + ሺ݀50 /݀݅ ሻ2
Page 5 of 9
 CH 2150

A B

Suspension Feed

Fig. Q 1 (b): Elutriator system for classification

Fig. Q 2(a): Pressure drop in packed columns (logarithmic axes)

Page 6 of 9
 CH 2150

‫ܮ‬ᇱ ߩீ
ܺ= ඨ
‫ ܩ‬ᇱ ߩ௅

Fig. Q 2(b): Generalized Pressure drop correlation

‫ ܩ‬ᇱ ‫ ܨ‬ሾሺߤ௅ /ߤ௪ ሻሺߩ௪ /ߩ௅ ሻሿ଴.ଵ

మ

ܻ=
ߩீ ሺߩ௅ − ߩீ ሻ݃

‫ܮ‬′ - Liquid mass flow rate per unit cross sectional area of the bed
‫ ܩ‬ᇱ -Gas mass flow rate per unit cross sectional area of the bed
F – Packing factor (see Table Q2)
ρ - Density
µ - Viscosity
g – Acceleration due to gravity

Suffix; G – gas, L –liquid, w – water

Page 7 of 9
 Table Q 2: Design data for various packings

Page 8 of 9
CH 2150
 CH 2150
To be detached and inserted in your answer book Index No……………………….

Fig. Q 1 (a)
10

1
0.1 1 10

100

90
Fig. Q 6
80

70
Cumulative % undersize

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

µm)
Particle size (µ

Page 9 of 9