Hindered Settling

We previously discussed settling of a

single particle in a liquid
d p g  p   
ut  4
 
3
CD   

p
 Recall: Terminal Velocity Ut for a single
particle in a fluid having properties .
 What happens when a single
particle settles through a slurry of
many other particles?
The settling rate vs is slower than Ut due to the
hindrance to its velocity caused by the
presenence of the other particles.
• The particles that make up the slurry
contribute to the bulk density and bulk
viscosity
• Thus the settling occurs as though the single
particle falls through a different fluid having
bulk density and bulk viscosity different from
the liquid phase
Properties of a slurry -
Define volume fraction:
Bulk Density =
Bulk Viscosity =
A slurry consists of many falling particles

Particles
see upward
moving
fluid that
slows them
down

Outside
Observer
sees
particles
moving
slower

Hindered settling in a graduated cylinder, forms 4 distinct zones

 Net flow is sum of flows of
Net flow is zero solid and fluid phases

Relation between velocities

Ut is the settling
vs is the velocity in a stagnant
observed fluid.
velocity by an
outside Hence, in hindered
observer settling vs < Ut.
 Practical Exercise
A sand particle falls through a water suspension of neutrally buoyant spheres at
room temperature. Estimate the observable terminal velocity of the sand particle.

Data: neutrally buoyant spheres (dp = 39 micron, density = 1000 kg/m3)

sand (dp = 1 mm, density = 2.5 g/cm3)
water (density = 1000 kg/m3 , viscosity = 1 cP)
recall unit conversion 1 cP = 10-3 kg/m/s
volume fraction of neutrally buoyant spheres = 0.15
Spheres, ~0.42

= 1 x 10-3 kg/m/s

= 2.1 x 10-3 kg/m/s

=0.15(1000kg/m3) + 0.85(1000 kg/m3) = 1000 kg/m3

Alternate solution approach…
p

3 3 3

Rep ~ 3e1 = 30

1.E+5
 = 30

Solve for velocity