Chemical Engineering B.

Tech Part II

(Session 2015-2016)

Tutorial No.5
Fluid Flow and Mechanical Operations

Q.1 A centrifuge having a radius of the bowl of 0.1016 m is rotating at N = 1000 rev/min.
(a) Calculate the centrifugal force developed in terms of gravity forces.
(b) Compare this force to that for a bowl with a radius of 0.2032 m rotating at the same rev/min.
Q.2 Two centrifuges rotate at the same peripheral velocity of 53.34 m/s. The first bowl has a radius of r 1 =
76.2 mm and the second r2= 305 mm. Calculate the rev/min and the centrifugal forces developed in each
bowl.

Q.3 A dilute slurry contains small solid food particles having a diameter of 5 x10 -2 mm which are to be
removed by centrifuging. The particle density is 1050 kg/m 3 and the solution density is 1000 kg/m3. The
viscosity of the liquid is 1.2 x10 -3 Pa s. A centrifuge at 3000 rev/min is to be used. The bowl dimensions
are b= 100.1 mm, r1= 5.00 mm and r2= 30.00 mm. Calculate the expected flowrate in m 3/s just to remove
these particles

Q.4 A dilute slurry contains particles with a density p = 1400 kg/m3 is to be clarified by centrifuge. The
solution density = 875 kg/m3, viscosity= 100cp and N= 26,000 rev/min. The centrifuge has a bowl with
r2=0.0445 m, r1= 0.01432 m, b=0.394 m and critical particle diameter is 0.42310 -4 m. Calculate the flow
rate.