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STUDIES
APPARATUS
SEDIMENTATION STUDIES APPARATUS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The bench-top Sedimentation Studies Apparatus has been designed to allow students to study the different
characteristics of sedimentation. Students shall be able to determine not only the effects of initial
concentration and initial suspension height on sedimentation rates but also the effect of particle size
distribution and the using of flocculating agents. Student shall also be able to construct the settling rates
curves from a single batch experiment.
Learning outcomes:
1. To study the effect different initial heights and concentrations on the settling rate.
2. To study the effect different volume of flocculants on the settling rate.
Theory
2.1 SUMMARY
At the beginning of a batch sedimentation process, the solid is uniformly distributed in the liquid, as shown in
Figure 1a. The total depth of the suspension is Zo. After a short while, the solids have settled to give a zone
clear liquid, zone A and zone D of settled solids as in Figure 1b. Above zone D is a transition layer, zone C,
in which the solids content varies from that in the original pulp to that in zone D. In zone B, the concentration
is uniform and equal to the original concentration since the settling rate is the same throughout this zone.
The boundaries between zones D and C and between C and B may not be distinct but the boundary
between zones A and B is usually sharp.
The depth of zones D and A increase as settling continues. The depth of zone C remains nearly constant
and that of zone B decreases as shown in Figure 1c. Eventually, zone B disappears and the solids are all in
zones C and D (see Figure 1d). Meanwhile, the gradual accumulation of solid puts stress on the material at
the bottom, which compresses solids in layer D. Compression breaks down the structure of the flocs or
aggregates and liquids is expelled into the upper zones. Sometimes liquid in the flocs spurts out of zone D
like small geysers as layer D compresses. Finally, when the weight of the solid is balanced by the
compressive strength of the flocs, the settling process stops, as shown in Figure 1e. This entire process as
shown in Figure 1 is called sedimentation.
A typical plot of interface height (the boundary between zones A and B) vs. time is shown in Figure 2. During
the early stages of settling the velocity is constant, as shown by the first portion of the curve. When zone B
disappears, the rate of settling starts to decrease and steadily drops until the ultimate height may still be
decreasing after long hours and the ultimate height can only be estimated.
Slurries vary greatly in their settling rates and in the relative heights of various zones during settling. The
initial rate is a function of the feed concentration but in the late stages, the settling rate also depends on the
initial height Zo, since compression effects are more important with the thicker sludge layers. The design of
an industrial thickener will need for experimental studies on the settling rate for different initial heights and
concentrations.
2.2 METHODOLOGY
a) Cylinders
Five equal sized of 53 mm outer diameter glass cylinders mounted on a vertical back-
panel, which is illuminated from behind. The cylinders made of borosilicate glass with
removable PVC cap. The length of each cylinder is 1,000 mm with the thickness of 2 mm.
Measuring scales are provided for each of the cylinders to measure the suspension
height.
b) Beakers
Two beakers with each capacity of 2,000 ml and made of polypropylene are supplied to
prepare the solution for the experiment.
c) Stopwatch
Stopwatch is provided to record the settling time throughout the experiment.
Prepare the solution in the plastic beaker. Remove the cylinder cap and slowly pour the
solution into the cylinder.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
3.1 Experiment A: Settling rate for different initial heights and concentrations.
Learrning outcomes: To study the effect different initial heights and concentrations on the settling
rate.
1. Make sure that all of the cylinders are empty before starting the experiments. To empty the
cylinders, hold the top and the middle section of the glass cylinder and pull the cylinder carefully
away from the back panel.
b) Cylinder 2
Concentration: 100g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 90 cm
c) Cylinder 3
Concentration: 50g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 60 cm
d) Cylinder 4
Concentration: 100g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 60 cm
e) Cylinder 5
Concentration: 100g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 30 cm
3. Remove the cylinder cap and slowly pour the solution into the cylinder.
Plug the power cord into a power socket to turn on the back panel illumination.
5. Stir the solution in each cylinder until a uniformly distributed solid in the liquid is achieved.
6. Record the initial time, to.
7. Record the height of the clear liquid interface, Z every 5 minutes intervals until the settling process
stops. Refer to Figure 1.
8. Record the final time, tf.
9. Record the final heights, Zf for each cylinder.
10. Tabulate all results in Table 1a as shown below.
11. Plot the height of clear liquid interface, Z vs. settling time, t.
NOTE: This experiment can be done with all five cylinders simultaneously or one cylinder at a time.
Table 1a: Settling rate for different initial heights and concentration – kaolin solution
Time Z [cm]
[min] Cylinder 1 Cylinder 2 Cylinder 3 Cylinder 4 Cylinder 5
Learrning outcomes: To study the effect different volume of flocculants on the settling rate.
1. Make sure that all of the cylinders are empty before starting the experiments. To empty the
cylinders, hold the top and the middle section of the glass cylinder and pull the cylinder carefully
away from the back panel.
a) Cylinder 1
Concentration: 50g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 90 cm
Flocculant: 5ml
b) Cylinder 2
Concentration: 100g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 90 cm
Flocculant: 10ml
c) Cylinder 3
Concentration: 50g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 60 cm
Flocculant: 15ml
d) Cylinder 4
Concentration: 100g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 60 cm
Flocculant: 20ml
e) Cylinder 5
Concentration: 100g of kaolin in 2L of water
Zo: 30 cm
Flocculant: 25ml
4. Remove the cylinder cap and slowly pour the solution into the cylinder.
5. Plug the power cord into a power socket to turn on the back panel illumination.
6. Stir the solution in each cylinder until a uniformly distributed solid in the liquid is achieved.
7. Record the initial time, to.
8. Record the height of the clear liquid interface, Z every 5 minutes intervals until the settling process
stops. Refer to Figure 1.
9. Record the final time, tf.
10. Record the final heights, Zf for each cylinder.
11. Tabulate all results in Table 2a as shown below.
12. Plot the height of clear liquid interface, Z vs. settling time, t.
NOTE: This experiment can be done with all five cylinders simultaneously or one cylinder at a time.
Table 2a: Settling rate for different volume of flocculants – kaolin solution
Time Z [cm]
[min] Cylinder 1 Cylinder 2 Cylinder 3 Cylinder 4 Cylinder 5
REFERENCES
1. Geankoplis, C. J., Transport Processes and Unit Operations, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, 1995.
2. McCabe, W. L., Eunit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall PTR, 1993.