Settling viscosity

In the viscous flow regime an irregularly shaped particle wiU settle in such a way that the line joining the centres of reaction and mass is parallel to the direction of gravity, giving a preferred orientation and thus a definitive settling viscosity. The use of Stokes law (Equation 3.15) to obtain an equivalent spherical diameter Xse for an irregular... 

Microemulsion Polymerization. Polyacrylamide microemulsions are low viscosity, non settling, clear, thermodynamically stable water-in-od emulsions with particle sizes less than about 100 nm (98—100). They were developed to try to overcome the inherent settling problems of the larger particle size, conventional inverse emulsion polyacrylamides. To achieve the smaller microemulsion particle size, increased surfactant levels are required, making this system more expensive than inverse emulsions. Acrylamide microemulsions form spontaneously when the correct combinations and types of oils, surfactants, and aqueous monomer solutions are combined. Consequendy, no homogenization is required. Polymerization of acrylamide microemulsions is conducted similarly to conventional acrylamide inverse emulsions. To date, polyacrylamide microemulsions have not been commercialized, although work has continued in an effort to exploit the unique features of this technology (100). 

Solids present in oil and synthetic muds must be kept wet with the nonaqueous phase to prevent coagulation and settling and mud instabiUty. Oil-wetting agents are normally incorporated in the basic mud package. These materials are typically amines or quaternary ammonium salts having hydrocarbon chains of 10 or more carbon atoms. They also render clays or lignites oil-wet for use in viscosity and filtration control (128). 

For products intended to remain stable dispersions for an extended period, a particle size of 2 p.m or less is desirable. A thickening agent is usuaUy added after the reaction has been completed and the mixture is cooled in order to prevent settling and agglomeration. Examples of thickeners are guar gum, xanthan gum, and hydroxyethylceUulose. The final products are generaUy between 40 and 50% soUds, with a viscosity of 1500 5000 mPa-s(=cP). 

Because mass flow bins have stable flow patterns that mimic the shape of the bin, permeabihty values can be used to calculate critical, steady-state discharge rates from mass flow hoppers. Permeabihty values can also be used to calculate the time required for fine powders to settle in bins and silos. In general, permeabihty is affected by particle size and shape, ie, permeabihty decreases as particle size decreases and the better the fit between individual particles, the lower the permeabihty moisture content, ie, as moisture content increases, many materials tend to agglomerate which increases permeabihty and temperature, ie, because the permeabihty factor, K, is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the air or gas in the void spaces, heating causes the gas to become more viscous, making the sohd less permeable. 

Controlled Stress Viscometer. Most rotational viscometers operate by controlling the rotational speed and, therefore, the shear rate. The shear stress varies uncontrollably as the viscosity changes. Often, before the stmcture is determined by viscosity measurement, it is destroyed by the shearing action. Yield behavior is difficult to measure. In addition, many flow processes, such as flow under gravity, settling, and film leveling, are stress-driven rather than rate-driven. 

Equipment. Centrifugation equipment that separates by density difference is available in a variety of sizes and types and can be categorized by capacity range and the theoretical settling velocities of the particles normally handled. Centrifuges that separate by filtration produce drained soflds and can be categorized by final moisture, drainage time, G, and physical characteristics of the system, such as particle size and Hquid viscosity. 

Fig. 8. Sedimentation equipment performance where the particles have a A5 value of 1.0 g/cm and a viscosity, p., value of 1 mPa-s(=cP). The value of is twice the settling velocity at G = 1, and Q = overflow discharge rate in measurements given.

Tar sand feed contains a certain portion of fine minerals that, if allowed to build up in concentration in the middlings, increases viscosity and eventually dismpts settling ia the separation cell. The drag stream is required as a purge in order to control the fines concentration in the middlings. The amounts of water that can enter with the feed and leave with the separation cell tailings and froth are relatively fixed. Thus, the size of the drag stream determines the makeup water requirement for the separation cell. 

Tank settling as a means of contaminant removal is not very efficient with fuels having the viscosity of kerosene. It is common practice to design tanks with cone-down drains and floating suctions to facilitate water and solids removal. 

As shown in Figure 2, adsorption of dispersants on particle surfaces can increase 2eta potential further, enhancing electrostatic repulsion. Increased repulsion between particles is evidenced by lower viscosity in concentrated slurries, or decreased settling rates in dilute suspensions. The effect of added dispersants on settling of (anhydrous) iron oxide particles is shown in Figure 3. 

Hindered Settling When particle concentration increases, particle settling velocities decrease oecause of hydrodynamic interaction between particles and the upward motion of displaced liquid. The suspension viscosity increases. Hindered setthng is normally encountered in sedimentation and transport of concentrated slurries. Below 0.1 percent volumetric particle concentration, there is less than a 1 percent reduction in settling velocity. Several expressions have been given to estimate the effect of particle volume fraction on settling velocity. Maude and Whitmore Br. J. Appl. Fhys., 9, 477—482 [1958]) give, for uniformly sized spheres,... 

Considerable laboratoiy work has indicated that the use of a dispersant such as sodium hexametaphosphate may assist in the stabihza-tion of the medium more recent data report the beneficial effect of the addition of polymers that reduce media viscosity while simultaneously producing a very low settling rate of the ferrous compound. This should be of great value for difficult separations, but at present no data are available from commercial operations. 

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