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UNIT OPERATIONS OF
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING,
7TH EDITION,
MCCABE, SMITH, HARRIOTT
Separation in
Human Life
10/31/19 2
Classification of separation process on the bases of
separating agent
1. ) Mechanical Processes
• An operation in which the components of a mixture are
separated mechanically or on the bases mechanical
characteristics into two or more individual components
• Mechanical Separations are applicable to heterogeneous
mixtures, not to homogenous solutions. The techniques
are based on the physical differences b/w the particles
such as size, shape or density.
2. )Physical Processes
Separation based on physical properties on the
individual components (e.g. distillation, absorption,
adsorption, leaching and solvent extraction)
a) Without involving thermal processes
b) Involving thermal processes
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3. ) Chemical Separation processes
A phenomenon of separation of the constituent/s due to chemical
reaction/s
Reactions may involve energy (i.e. Exothermal / Endodermal)
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5.) Novel Techniques for Separation for process intensification,
energy conservation or quality improvement.
• Engineers innovate by conducting research to innovate compact, safe,
energy-efficient, and environment-friendly sustainable processes .
Ans.: In osmosis, water moves from solvent to salt side. In reverse osmosis, water is
forced out of solute side by applying pressure.
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Assignment # 3
Q. No. 1: Working principals, application in chemical industries of the fallowing novel separation
processes,
“Dialysis , Electro Dialysis , Osmosis, Reverse osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Pressure swing process,
membrane technology, molecular sieves and Chromatographic separation technology.”
Q. No. 2:
i. Discuss the importance and significance of the given mechanical separation
techniques with reference to specific chemicals/process industries.
ii. How can mechanical separation-oriented characterization be attributed for
quality management and production cost reduction ?
“Screening, Filtration, Flotation and Sedimentation, Clarification, Centrifugal separations,
Jigging, magnetic and electrostatic separations, Sonic processes, Agglomeration/ clustering”
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Mechanical separation processes
Introduction
Mechanical separation for heterogeneous mixtures include separation of solid from gases, liquids and solids.
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Stationary screens and Grizzlies
• A grizzly is a grid parallel metallic bars fixed in a stationary
frame.
• The slope and the path of the material are usually are
parallel to the bars,
• Space between the bars is 2 to 8 inch (50 to 200 mm )
• Suitable for very coarse feed, as from primary crusher,
directly falls on upper end of the grid,
• More effective for free flowing solids having few fine
particles.
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Single stage
Grizzlies: Grizzlies
Consist of a set of parallel bars held apart
by spacers, having predetermined opening.
The slope and path of the material is
usually parallel to the length of the bars.
Suitable for coarse feed falls on the upper
end of the grid.
Large chunks roll and slide to the tails Multi-stage
discharge, small lumps falls through to a Grizzlies
separate collector.
Bars are made of manganese steel to
reduce wear, with spacing 2 to 8 inch.
Good with coarse, free flowing particles
containing only small amount of fines.
Industrial screens is made of woven, wire,
silk' or plastic cloth, metal bars, perforated
or slotted metal that are wedge- shaped in
cross section
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Gyrating Screens:
Gyrating means move or cause to move rapidly
in a circle or spiral,
Mainly consist of a set of screens that are
stacked one upon the other ( largest screen at the
top and smallest is at the bottom)
Whole assembly is inclined at an adjustable
angle 16 to 30 degree along the horizontal axis.
Feed is introduced at the top screen to separate
different fractions, undersize, or fines, pass
through the screen openings. A single screen can
separate into two fractions,
Casing and screen are gyrated in a vertical plane
about a horizontal axis,
Mechanical Details of Gyrating Screens
Gyrating Screens has an eccentric drive or weights that causes the shaker to
move in an orbital path and designed for the highest attainable quality at the
cost of a reduced feed rate.
The material rolls over the screen & falls with the induction of gravity and
directional shifts.
Rubber balls and trays provide an additional mechanical means to cause the
material to fall through.
The balls also provide a throwing action for the material to find an open slot to
fall through.
The shaker is set a shallow angle relative to the horizontal level plane. Usually,
no more than 2 to 5 degrees along the horizontal plane.
These types of shakers are used for clean feeds i.e. final product will not
contain any oversize or any contamination.
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Gyrating Screens:
600-1800 rev/min, and screen dimensions
are 1.5 by 4 ft or 5 by 14 ft.
Between the screens, sometimes rubber
balls are also used, that are held in separate
compartment.
As the machine moves, the balls tend to free
the blocked surfaces by striking them.
Screen being plugged by the presence of
solid particles is said to be blinded.
Revolving Screens/ Drum/Trammel:
Trammel screens consist up of cylindrical frame
surrounded by wire cloth or perforated plate,
open at both ends,
Drum rotates at a slight angle with screen
panels around the diameter of the drum,
Low efficiency and capacity.
The feed remains at the bottom of the drum and
as the drum rotates that keeps the screen clean.
Oversized product moves towards end of the
drum, while the undersized filter through the
screen into a casing set below.
Constructional details of Revolving
screens
Revolving screens
Separator
Mechanically Shaking Screens:
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Screening
An Ideal screening would sharply separate the feed mix in
such a way that the smallest particle in the overflow would
be just larger than larger particle in the underflow.
Ideal separation defines a cut diameter (Dpc), that marks
the point of separation between overpass and underpass
fractions and should be equal to aperture size of the screen.
An ideal velocity of particles through the screen should
be in the range of 0.6 to. 0.9 m/s.
Actual screen don’t perform a perfect separation about
the cut diameter.
Ideal vs actual screening
In actual practice exact separation can be achieved up to some extent only in
case of particles that are spherical in shape for a specific (Dpc or screen
opening)
Otherwise inaccuracy may be observed in the adjacent sieves, because of
variation in shape of particles,
Needlelike or fibrous materials tend to form clusters of different sized
particles. To achieve optimum particle size separation for a wide range of feed
rates, high performance and self-cleaning separators are req
uired.
Ideal Screening Measures
• An ideal screen sharply separates the feed in such a way
that the smallest particle in the overflow is just larger than
the largest particle in the underflow.
• Such an ideal separation would define a cut diameter, Dpc,
representing the point of separation between the fractions.
• For an ideal operation, a plot of screen opening against
cumulative fraction retained would have the standard
shape .
• As can be seen, the largest particle of the underflow has
the same size as the smallest particle of the overflow.
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• It has been observed that the overlap is smaller when
particles are spherical (or close to a spherical shape) and is
larger when particles are needle-like, fibrous or tend to
agglomerate.
• The main problems encountered in screen separation is
stickiness, sieve blockage, and agglomeration.
• All these problems increase exponentially as the screen
aperture decreases
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DESIGN OF SCREENS FOR SEPARATION OF PARTICULATE
MATERIALS
The objective of a screening operation is to separate a feed stream into two
fractions, an underflow that is passed through the screen and an overflow that is
rejected by the screen.
• Right system for faultless Performance for specific feeds,
• Main Parameters for Design;
Nature of feed, Feed rate to the screen surface, Percent undersize and oversize,
Screen aperture, Bulk Density, stickiness of materials, Particle Shape (natural sand
& gravel or crushed stone or mineral ore). Percent open area of screening medium
selected.
• Appropriate Selection of Separation scheme based of the phases of the feed,
• Universal “rules of thumb” for optimum depth of bed, according to of aperture
size.
• Retention time and loading capacity for peak efficiency which influence
exponentially with bed depth.
10/31/19 32
Classification of separation techniques according
to phases involved.
Type of mixture Techniques
Liquid–liquid Distillation Extraction Decantation Dialysis and
electro-dialysis Parametric pumping
Solid–solid Screening Leaching Flotation Air classification
Solid–gas Cycloning Air filtration Scrubbing Electrostatic
precipitation
Solid–liquid Sedimentation Centrifugation Filtration Membrane
separations
10/31/19 33
Material balance over screen
Simple material balance can be written over a screen which are useful in calculating
Ratios of the feed
Oversize
Underflow
Desired cut diameter
Let F, D, and B be the mass flow rates of the feed, overflow, and under flow respectively
Let xF, xD and xB be the mass fractions of oversize material in these three streams.
Material balance over screen
The mass fractions of undersize material in the feed, overflow
and underflow are 1-xF, 1-xD and 1-xB
Since the total material fed to the screen must leave it either
as underflow or overflow
F= D+B
The material A in the feed must also leave in these two
stream and
FxF = DxD + BxB
Elimination of B from equation A and B gives
Material balance over screen
Separations by screen are almost never perfect.
Some undersize particles are usually left in the material retained on a
given screen.
Sometimes oversize particles find their way through the screen into the
undersize.
Completeness of the separation depend on screen efficiency
Various formulas have been proposed.
A uniform method of calculating overall efficiency however has never
been established.
Screen effectiveness: A measure of success of
the screen in closely separating the feed into over size ( which is
retained on the screen) and under size
A combines overall effectiveness is the product of the two individual ratios of EA and EB
10/31/19 39
Screen capacity
The probability of passage of a particle through a screen
depends on the
i. fraction of the total surface represented by openings
ii. Ratio of the diameter of the particle to the width of an
opening in the screen.
iii. Number of contacts between the particle and the screen
surface.
Screen capacity
Efficiency can be improved at the expense of capacity
reduction,
If loading is low, number of contacts between particles and
screen are increased which enhances the chances of particles to
pass through the screen on each contact.
Under loaded screens i.e. progressively efficiency decreases,
[in general low for particle sizes smaller than 150 mesh (0.1mm)]
Example 30.1 (McCabe smith 5th edition)
A quartz mixture having
the screen analysis shown
in table is screened through
a standard 10mesh screen.
The cumulative screen
analysis of overflow and
underflow are given in
table.
Calculate the mass ratios
of the overflow and
underflow to feed and
overall effectiveness of the
screen.
10/31/19 43
10/31/19 44
CHAPTER # 29 MECHNICAL SEPARATION
Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering (7 e)
By McCabe, W.L. Smith, J.C. & Harriot, P.
Sedimentation
• Sedimentation – A process of settling of the particles in a suspension
(fluid +solid particles) under the effect of gravity or due to any other
force.
• Rate of sedimentation depends upon the size, density of particles, and
physical properties of the fluids.
• The particle that settles from the suspension, known as sediment, and
the fluid is known as sludge.
• For example, sand and silt can be carried in suspension with the river
water due to high velocity in hilly areas and
• Eventually the slit, sand, and sedimentary rocks, sediment in plane areas
4 TYPES OF SEDIMENTATION PROCESSES:
Type 1
Dilutes, non-flocculent, free-settling
(every particle settles independently.)
Type 2
Dilute, flocculent (particles can
flocculate as they settle).
Type 3
Concentrated suspensions, zone
settling, hindered settling (sludge
thickening).
Type 4
Concentrated suspensions,
compression (sludge thickening).
Gravity sedimentation processes
Density difference is needed between particle and the fluid ,
When a particle moves in fluid, a number of forces act on the particle,
i.e. Gravity force, Buoyant Force and Drag Force.
Stokes’ Law- describes the influence of various resisting force on a particle moving through a viscous
fluid and the maximum velocity of a particle falling under gravity through a fluid.
Stokes’ Law
FD = 3π μ u Dp
0
The law is important for the researches to select the correct microsphere to
optimize the performance of the particle in a solution, accuracy of data collected,
and precision of the fluid flow calculations.
• The settling velocity and settling time are inversely proportional to (diameter) 2 of the
spherical
• The most critical variable is the difference in the densities (particle & liquid.) & also
Viscosity of the liquid
Acceleration of Gravity :
g= 18 µ Vt /d2( ρp - ρm)
Particle Diameter :
d= 18 µ Vt /g (ρp - ρm)
Density of Medium :
ρm = ρp - 18 µ Vt/ d2
What is the time of settlement of coarse particle of a
soil sample, of diameter (D) 0.5?
Take (settling velocity) V=0.905D2 and height of water
tank as 5 m.
a) 11.6 seconds
b) 72.8 seconds
c) 14 seconds
d) 22.1 seconds
Answer: d
Explanation: V=0.905(0.5)2=0.2263 m/sec
Time of settlement, T=h/v =5/0.2263=22.1 seconds
A mixture of fine sand, silt and clay
Gravity sedimentation process
Mechanical separations are based upon the sedimentation of solid particles or
liquid drops through the fluid, impelled either by,
Force of gravity or
Centrifugal force
In certain processes the objective of the sedimentation process is to remove
contaminants from the fluid (liquid or gas),
To recover the useful particles,
In some problems, particles are deliberately suspended in fluids to obtain
separation of particles into fractions differing in size or density.
Gravity sedimentation process
Many mechanical separations are based
on the sedimentation of solid particles or
liquid drops through the fluid, impelled or
caused either by, Gravity
i. Force of gravity, or sedimentation.
Gravity separation can obviously be applied, if particles density is greater than the fluid.
1) Produce a clarified (free of suspended solids) effluent.
2) Produce a highly concentrated solid sludge
• For different particles A & B, settling in Stokes regime, equations becomes;
EXAMPLE
Types of Gravity sedimentation
process
Clarifiers:
A settling tank with mechanical means for
continuous removal of solids being deposited
by sedimentation.
Generally used to remove solid particulates
or suspended solids from liquid for
clarification (or) thickening
Concentrated impurities, discharged from
the bottom of the tank are known as sludge,
while the particles that float to the surface of
the liquid are called scum or filth.
A settler that virtually removes all the
particle from a liquid is called as
clarifier.
Classifier:
A device that separates the solids into two fractions is called as classifier.
Used for separating solids of different characteristics by controlled rates of settling.
Materials can be classified hydraulically or
pneumatically
Pros & Cons of Classifiers
Flow, gallons/day
Surface Overflow Rate (SOR) =
Surface Area, ft2
Solids, lbs/day
Solids Loading =
Surface Area, ft2
Differential settling method
All particles of light component B having diameters between D P1 and
DP2 will settle more slowly than any particle of the heavy substance A
and can be obtained as a pure fraction.
Any particle of substance A having diameters between DP3 and DP4
settle faster than any particle of substance B and can also be obtained
as a pure fraction.
But any light particle having a diameter between DP2 and DP4 settles at
the same speed as a particle of substance A in the size range between
DP1 and DP3, as a result mixed fraction is obtained.
Differential settling method
Centrifugal sedimentation process
• Centrifugal separator - a machine
that separates two mixed
components of different density (as
cream in milk or oil in sludge) by
centrifugal force which accelerates
separation and divides in 2 distinct
phases during centrifugation.
Applications of centrifugal
separation
• Suitable for the components
having narrow densities,
• Separating particles from an
air-flow using cyclonic
separation,
• Removing fat from milk to
produce skimmed milk,
• Separating chalk powder from
water
• Analysis of urine and blood
components in forensic and
research laboratories,
• Useful technique to purify
proteins, vitamins etc.
69
Principle of CENTRIFUGAL SEDIMENTATION
To increase the settling rate, the force of gravity acting on
Device
the particle, may be replaced by a much stronger Rotates
centrifugal force.
Centrifugal sedimentation have great effectiveness in
case of fine drops separation, and their much smaller size
for a given capacity as compared to the gravity based
sedimentation process.
Two main categories of centrifugal sedimentation i.e.
cyclone separators and centrifuges.
Dust laden air travels in a spiral path around and down
Device Stationary
the cylindrical body of the cyclone. but
Stream Circulates
Centrifugal force tends to move the particles towards the
wall, and the particles that move towards the wall move
towards the bottom.
• A cyclonic separation is a method of removing
particulates from an air, gas or liquid stream,
without the use of filters, through vortex separation.
Collection efficiency highly depends upon the particles trajectories with in the
cyclone,
Particles trajectories are difficult to measure but can be determined by empirical
equations,
Typical data for commercial cyclones is plotted in fig. 29.39, which shows a strong
effect of particle size and cyclone diameter on collection efficiency.
Fig 29.39 indicates that cyclones efficiency decreases with the decrease of particle
size,
Collection efficiency cyclones increases with the particle density as the
temperature increases and decreases for gases because the density of gases
increase with the rise of temperature.
Cyclones efficiency is higher at the full load as compared to partial load,
Sometimes 2 identical cyclones are used in series but efficiency of the 2nd cyclone
is less as compared to 1st one.
Settling time is limited by the
residence time of the liquid in
the bowl,
At the end of this time let the
particle be at a distance ‘ rB ‘
from the axis of rotation,
If rB < r2 the particles leaves the
bowl with liquid ,
If rB = r2 , the particle deposits on
bowl’s wall and removed from the
liquid,
29.45
Cut Point:
• A cut point is defined as the diameter that just reaches one half the distance
between r1 and r2.
• If Dpc is the cut diameter, a particle of this size moves a distance y=(r2-r1)/2,
during the settling time allowed.
• If the particle of Dpc is to be removed, it must travel and reach the bowl wall in
the available time, thus Rb=R2 and Ra = (R1+R2)/2, then the equation becomes,
Estimation of terminal velocity of liquid in the bowl & volumetric flow rates,
29.76
Equ. 29.76
29.77
Equ. 29.76
29.78
Calculation of residence time and qc
If thickness of layer becomes too small, that the above equation becomes
indeterminate, in these conditions the settling velocity can be considered
constant and given by,
29.80
29.81
29.82
29.83
Sigma value ; Scale up
Liquid solid separations i.e. hydro-cyclones
Centrifugal decanters
Tubular centrifuge
Disk centrifuge
Nozzle discharge centrifuge
Sludge operators
Flocculation & Coagulation
In colloid chemistry, flocculation is a process
by which fine particulates combine together
due to an agent { commonly know as floc/
Flocculants},
Flocking agents are the chemicals that
promote flocculation by colliding the
suspended particles in liquids to aggregate,
Flocculated matter may float to the top of the
liquid (creaming), or settle down
(sedimentation) which can be separated by
filtration,
In water treatment Flocculation improves
filterability, otherwise tiny Suspended solids
(micrometres in diameter) can not settle under
gravity or settle very slowly for practical
operation.
Fortunately, agglomerates or clusters
particles, settle at reasonable rates and ease
Coagulation-flocculation
• Conventional pre-treatment method (typically
in combination with sedimentation and
filtration),
• used to separate the suspended and dissolved
compounds ( turbidity ) from the water in
• Coagulation i.e. the clotting of blood to form
solid masses, or bigger clots.
• More than 30 types of cells and substances in
blood affect clotting. Medicines to control
clotting and platelets in human body ,
Coagulation and flocculation are important
processes in water treatment with
coagulation to destabilize particles through
chemical reaction between coagulant and
colloids, and flocculation to transport the
destabilized particles ,
Batch sedimentation or Flocculation
• The process by which scattered fine particles clot-like masses or precipitate into small lumps..
• Flocculation : the process of agglomeration of destabilized particles to such a size that can be separated by
sedimentation or by filtration
• Flocculation occurs due to a chemical reaction between 2 component particles by the addition of an agent e.g.
salt + Alums + water
Flocculation occurs in several stages or
in different zones,
Batch sedimentation or Flocculation
is suitable, when the concentration
of solids is high enough that
sedimentation of individual particles
or flocs is hindered by other solids,
At first the solid is uniformly
distributed and well mixed in the
liquid,
After some time the matter settle
down or floats or divided in 2
distinct zones,
Filtration
Filtration is a mechanical, physical or biological operation to separate solids from fluids
(liquids or gases) by passing through a medium in which only the fluid can pass,
The fluid that passes through is called the filtrate,
FILTRATION
• Filtration may be defined as the separation of solid from a
fluid by
means of a porous medium that retains the solid but allows the
fluid to pass.
10/31/19 WATER FILTRATION 97
Rate of Filtration:
• All other things being equal, the object of the operation
is to filter the slurry as quickly as possible.
• The factors affecting rate of filtration is known as
Darcy”s law and may be expressed as:
• dV / dt = KA P /ul
where
V= volume of filtrate, t = time of filtration ,
K = constant for the filter medium and filter cake ,
A = area of filter medium ,
P = pressure drop across the filter medium and filter
cake ,
u = viscosity of the filtrate , and l = thickness of cake.
Factors affecting rate of filtration
2- Area of filter medium: The total volume of filtrate flowing from the
filter will be proportional to the area of the filter. The area can be
increased by using larger filters. In the rotary drum filter, the continuous
removal of the filter cake will give an infinite area for filtration.
3- Pressure drop;
The rate of filtration is proportional to the pressure difference across both
the filter medium and filter cake.