Solid particulates

Particulate solids are powders, flakes, chips, etc., e.g. detergent powders, soap chips. 

Packages of over 5 kg are sampled by using a probe or core sampler holding 0.5 1. The samples are mixed and a 11 final sample is obtained by means of a sample divider. 

The size analysis of a powdered material on a mass basis is represented by a straight line from 0 per cent at 1 nn particle size to 100 per cent by mass at 101 pin particle size. Calculate the surface mean diameter of the particles constituting the system. 

The equations giving the number distribution curve for a powdered material are dn/dd = d for the size range 0-10 xm, and dn/dd = 100,000/d4 for the size range 10-100 p,m where d is in p,m. Sketch the number, surface and mass distribution curves and calculate the surface mean diameter for the powder. Explain briefly how the data for the construction of these curves may be obtained experimentally. 

The fineness characteristic of a powder on a cumulative basis is represented by a straight line from the origin to 100 per cent undersize at a particle size of 50 pun. If the powder is initially dispersed uniformly in a column of liquid, calculate the proportion by mass which remains in suspension in the time from commencement of settling to that at which a 40 pun particle falls the total height of the column. It may be assumed that Stokes law is applicable to the settling of the particles over the whole size range. 

For settling in the Stokes law region, the velocity is proportional to the diameter squared and hence the time taken for a 40 pm particle to fall a height li m is  

During this time, a particle of diameter d p in has fallen a distance equal to  

In Volume 1, the behaviour of fluids, both liquids and gases is considered, with particular reference to their flow properties and their heat and mass transfer characteristics. Once the composition, temperature and pressure of a fluid have been specified, then its relevant physical properties, such as density, viscosity, thermal conductivity and molecular diffu-sivity, are defined. In the early chapters of this volume consideration is given to the properties and behaviour of systems containing solid particles. Such systems are generally more complicated, not only because of the complex geometrical arrangements which are possible, but also because of the basic problem of defining completely the physical state of the material. 

The three most important characteristics of an individual particle are its composition, its size and its shape. Composition determines such properties as density and conductivity, provided that the particle is completely uniform. In many cases, however, the particle is porous or it may consist of a continuous matrix in which small particles of a second material are distributed. Particle size is important in that this affects properties such as the surface per unit volume and the rate at which a particle will settle in a fluid. A particle shape may be regular, such as spherical or cubic, or it may be irregular as, for example, with a piece of broken glass. Regular shapes are capable of precise definition by mathematical equations. Irregular shapes are not and the properties of irregular particles are usually expressed in terms of some particular characteristics of a regular shaped particle. 

Large quantities of particles are handled on the industrial scale, and it is frequently necessary to define the system as a whole. Thus, in place of particle size, it is necessary to know the distribution of particle sizes in the mixture and to be able to define a mean size which in some way represents the behaviour of the particulate mass as a whole. Important operations relating to systems of particles include storage in hoppers, flow through orifices and pipes, and metering of flows. It is frequently necessary to reduce the size of particles, or alternatively to form them into aggregates or sinters. Sometimes it may be necessary to mix two or more solids, and there may be a requirement to separate a mixture into its components or according to the sizes of the particles. 

In some cases the interaction between the particles and the surrounding fluid is of little significance, although at other times this can have a dominating effect on the behaviour of the system. Thus, in filtration or the flow of fluids through beds of granular particles, the characterisation of the porous mass as a whole is the principal feature, and the resistance to flow is dominated by the size and shape of the free space between the particles. In such situations, the particles are in physical contact with adjoining particles and there is 

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Rather than use a cloth, a granular medium consisting of layers of particulate solids on a support grid can be used. Downward fiow of the mixture causes the solid particles to be captured within the medium. Such deep-bed filters are used to remove small quantities of solids from large quantities of liquids. To release the solid particles captured within the bed, the flow is periodically reversed, causing the bed to expand and release the particles which have been captured. Around 3 percent of the throughput is needed for this backwashing. 

This section is devoted to the relationship between the specific surface of particulate solids and some parameter or parameters which characterize the particle size. Attention will be restricted to particles of simple shapes, but non-uniformity of particle size will be considered. 

The Gaussian distribution is rare amongst particulate solids, though instances have been found with aerosols and precipitates. Much more... 

Packed Columns A packed column is constructed from glass, stainless steel, copper or aluminum and is typically 2-6 m in length, with an internal diameter of 2-4 mm. The column is filled with a particulate solid support, with particle diameters ranging from 37-44 pm to 250-354 pm. 

Solutions of solids may need to be converted into aerosols by pneumatic or sonic-spraying techniques. After solvent has evaporated from the aerosol droplets, the residual particulate solid matter can be ionized by a plasma torch. 

For inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) the sample is normally in solution but may be a fine particulate solid or even a gas. If it is a solution, this is nebulized, resulting in a fine spray or aerosol, in flowing argon gas. The aerosol is introduced into a plasma torch, illustrated in Figure 3.21. 

Institute of Gas Technology/Particulate Solids Research Inc. Mel Pell... 

J. W. Carson and R. T. Jenkyn, "Load Development and Stmctural Considerations in Silo Design," presented at Eeliable Flow of Particulate Solids II, Oslo, Norway, Aug. 1993. 

Description A tray or compartment diyer is an enclosed, insulated housing in which solids are placed upon tiers of trays in the case of particulate solids or stacked in piles or upon shelves in the case of large objects. Heat transfer may be direct from gas to sohds by circulation of large volumes of hot gas or indirect by use of heated shelves, radiator coils, or refractoiy walls inside the housing. In indirec t-heat units, excepting vacuum-shelf equipment, circulation of a small quantity of gas is usually necessary to sweep moisture vapor from the compartment and prevent gas saturation and condensation. Compartment units are employed for the heating and diying of lumber, ceramics, sheet materi s (supported on poles), painted and metal objects, and all forms of particulate solids. 

Uniform depth of loading in dryers and furnaces handling particulate solids is essential to consistent operation, minimum heating cycles, or control of final moisture. After a tray has been loaded, the bed should be leveled to a uniform depth. Special preform devices, noodle extruders, pelletizers, etc., are employed occasionally for preparing pastes and filter cakes so that screen bottom trays can be used and the advantages of through circulation approached. 

Pneumatic-Conveyor Dryers A pneumatic-conveyor dryer consists of a long tube or duct carrying a gas at high velocity, a fan to propel the gas, a suitable feeder for addition and dispersion of particulate solids in the gas stream, and a cyclone collector or other separation equipment for final recoveiy of sohds from the gas. 

Pitched-blade turbines (Fig, 18-3) are used on top-entering agitator shafts instead of propellers when a high axial circulation rate is desired and the power consumption is more than 2,2 kW (3 hp), A pitched-blade turbine near the upper surface of liquid in a essel is effecth e for rapid submergence of floating particulate solids,... 

It is classification by contacting method that provides the two principal categories into which leaching equipment is divided (I) that in which the leaching is accomphshed oy percolation and (2) that in which particulate solids are dispersed into a hquid and subsequently separated from it. Each includes batch and continuous units. Materials which disintegrate during leaching are treated in equipment of the second class. 

Filter-medium selection embraces many types of construction fabrics of woven fibers, felts, and nonwoven fibers, porous or sintered solids, polymer membranes, or particulate solids in the form of a permeable bed. Media of all types are available in a wide choice of materials. 

Granular Beds of Particulate Solids Beds of solids like sand or coal are used as filter media to clarify water or chemical solutions containing small quantities of suspended particles. Filter-grade grains of desired particTe size can be purchasea. Frequently beds will be constructed of layers of different materials and different particle sizes. 

The control of processes involving the treatment of solids generally requires means for careful samphng and analysis of solids and slurries at various points in an operation. Unlike liquids, particulate solids are not homogeneous. The composition of individual particles will vaiy with particle size and particle density. It follows that care must be... 

Estimating Minimum Sample Quantity for Moisture Measurement Estimates of material quantity for testing moisture content depend on mechanisms of moisture distribution in the material. Moisture is physically retained on particle surfaces, chemically adsorbed on surfaces and within pores of particulate solids, and contained as an internal constituent of solids. Significant internal moisture is most often encountered in organic and agricultural source materials. 

The cost of an electric-drive rotaiy-cutter sample of the smallest size manufactured—suitable for gravity sampling of fine particulate solids or shiny flow—including timer and control unit was approximately 5,000 in 1996. 

FIG. 20-79 Effect of pelleting pressure on axial crushing strength of compacted calcite particles of different sizes demonstrating existence of a critical yield pressure. Inset shows the effect of hardness on critical yield pressure. [Benhow, Enlargement and Compaction of Particulate Solids, Stanley-Wood (ed.), Butteixooiihs, 169 (1.9S3),]... 

NFPA 91 Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

NFPA 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, 1997 edition. 

The Nusselt-type expression was used by Handley and Heggs (1968) to correlate heat transfer coefficients between particulate solids and fluid as ... 

All chemical operations produce waste either as solid wastes (including pastes, sludge and drummed liquids), liquid effluents, or gaseous emissions (including gases, particulate solids, mists and fogs). Relevant data are summarized in Chapters 16 and 17. 

Contaminants Provide measures to remove unacceptable contaminants from feed materials, process streams and services, e.g. entrained liquid, tramp metal, unwanted particulate solids... 

The term three-phase fluidization requires some explanation, as it can be used to describe a variety of rather different operations. The three phases are gas, liquid and particulate solids, although other variations such as two immiscible liquids and particulate solids may exist in special applications. As in the case of a fixed-bed operation, both co-current and counter- current gas-liquid flow are permissible and, for each of these, both bubble flow, in which the liquid is the continuous phase and the gas dispersed, and trickle flow, in which the gas forms a continuous phase and the liquid is more or less dispersed, takes place. A well established device for countercurrent trickle flow, in which low-density solid spheres are fluidized by an upward current of gas and irrigated by a downward flow of liquid, is variously known as the turbulent bed, mobile bed and fluidized packing contactor, or the turbulent contact absorber when it is specifically used for gas absorption and/or dust removal. Still another variation is a three-phase spouted bed contactor. 

Solid particles have a distinct form, which can strongly affect their appearance, product quality and processing behaviour. Thus, in addition to chemical composition, particulate solids have to be additionally characterized by particle size and shape. Furthermore, particles can be generated at any point within the process. For example, nucleation occurs within a crystallization process and large particles are broken down to numerous smaller ones in a comminution process or within a drier. 

Mass of solids in slurry feed/(Mass of particulate solids + clear liquid in feed)] = [Mass of particulate solids in cake/(Mass of particulate solids in cake + Mass of clear liquor in cake + Mass of liquor in clear filtrate)] i.e. 

Because the physical characteristics of the particulate solids both affect, and are affected by each unit operation, there exists an interaction between them. The study of particulate systems thus provides methods for synthesizing and evaluating economically optimum process configurations. 

A cyclone separator is an economical device for removing particulate solids from a fluid system. The induced centrifugal force (see Figure 7-6) is tangentially imparted on the wall of the cyclone cylinder. This force, with the density difference between the fluid and solid, increases the relative settling velocity. 

The Doppler meter may be used wherever small particulate solids, bubbles or droplets are dispersed in the fluid and are moving at essentially the same velocity as the fluid stream which is to be metered. A continuous ultrasonic wave is transmitted, again at an acute angle to the wall of the duct, and the shift in frequency between the transmitted and scattered waves is measured. This method of measurement of flowrate is frequently used for slurries and dispersions which present considerable difficulties when other methods are used. 

Mixing together of particulate solids, sometimes referred to as blending, is a very complex process in that it is very dependent, not only on the character of the particles — density, size, size distribution, shape and surface properties — but also on the differences of these... 

Elastomers, of which vulcanized natural rubber is the most important example, also undergo dramatic changes in mechanical properties when filled with particulate solids. In part, knowledge of this particular type of system has been developed empirically as the technology of car-tyre manufacture has advanced. 

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