Particle Mechanics & Mechanical

Operations
CHE103
 Course Objective & Course Learning
Outcomes
• To help the learners understand particle
characterization techniques and the methods of size
reduction, particle separation & mixing
• Upon completion of this course, the learners will be
able to
– Apply the principles of size reduction, settling and particle
characterization methods to compute the performance of size
reduction and size separation equipment.
– Employ the principles of filtration to determine filtration
characteristics.
– Estimate power consumption in agitated vessels
 Course Content
• Unit – I: Particle Characterization
• Unit – II: Size reduction, Clarification,
Classification
• Unit - III: Filtration, Floatation
• Unit – IV: Mixing, Agitation
 Learning Outcomes for Unit - I
• Upon completion of Unit – I, the learner will be able to
– Characterize particles in terms of size and shape (sphericity)
– Describe the various methods of particle size measurements
– Analyze particle size distribution using differential and
cumulative methods of analysis
– Compute the different mean diameters (volume mean diameter,
surface-volume mean diameter) and specific surface area using
differential analysis
– Compute screen effectiveness by cumulative analysis
– Describe the types of sampling
– Estimate the volume of pile
Particle – What is it?
Particle Shapes
 Particle Shape
• A number needed to quantify particle shape
• Sphericity (φ)– How close is a particle’s shape to a sphere?

• Dp is the diameter of a sphere having the same volume as that

of the particle (equivalent diameter) or the nominal diameter
• sp & sp are surface area and volume of the particles
 Sphericity - Illustrations
• What is the sphericity of a solid cylinder of
diameter 2 cm and height 5 cm?
– Volume = 15.7 cm3
– Surface area = 37.68 cm2
– Dp = 3.107 cm;
– Sphericity = (6/3.107)/(37.68/15.7)= 0.8046
 Particle size – For single particles
• Diameter – Particle size of spherical particles
• What about non-spherical particles?
– Particle size is the 2nd longest major dimension
 Particle size - Types
• Ferret Diameter
– Distance between parallel
tangents drawn to the
particle’s projection
• Martin Diameter
– Length of a line that bisects
a particle into 2 equal areas
• Ferret & Martin diameters
are orientation dependent
• Use in microscopy for
irregular shaped particles
 Particle size - Types
• Projected area diameter
– Diameter of a sphere having the same projected
area as that of the particles
• Surface area diameter
– Diameter of a sphere having the same surface area
as that of the particles
• Stoke’s diameter
– Diameter of a sphere having the settling rate as the
that of the particles in Stoke’s regime
 Particle size - Types
• Surface-volume diameter
– Diameter of a sphere having the same surface to
volume ratio as that of the particles
 Particle size Distribution
• Do all the particles in a sample are of the same
size?
– Unlikely
– Distribution of particle size exists
 Particle size Distribution
• Sieve analysis: A simple way
to arrive at particle size
distribution
• Sieves
– Metallic structure with frame and
mesh
– Numbered based on number of
meshes per square inch
– Size ratio between two successively
numbered sieves – 20.5
– Standard sieves: Tyler, BS ASTM, DIN,
IS
 Sieve Analysis
Sieve number Nominal opening / sieve size (mm) Mass retained (g)
6 3.35 2
10 2.00 4

14 1.18 6
18 0.85 12
25 0.71 25
30 0.60 40 After sieving, mass of
35 0.50 60
particles in each sieve
to be measured
40 0.425 Sieves to be loaded on a38
45 Sieves to be arranged
0.355 sieve shaker 24
50 (Smallest mesh number
0.30 12
60 at the top) 0.25 7
100 0.15 3
Pan 0 1

Total mass = 232 g

 Sieve Analysis – Differential Analysis
Sieve Nominal Particle size Mass Mass
number opening / (Dpi, mm) retained fraction
sieve size (g) retained
(mm) (xi, -)
6 3.35 - 0 0
10 2.00 =(2+3.35)/2 4 =4/232
14 1.18 =(1.18+2)/2 6 =6/232

18 0.85 =(0.85+1.18)/2 12 =12/232

25 0.71 25 =25/232
30 0.60 40

35 0.50 60

40 0.425 38

45 0.355 24
50 0.30 12
60 0.25 =(0.25+0.3)/2 7
100 0.15 =(0.15+0.25)/2 3 =3/232
Pan 0 =(0+0.15)/2 1 =1/232
 Sieve Analysis – Cumulative Analysis
Sieve Nominal opening Particle size Mass Mass fraction Cumulative mass fraction Cumulative
number / (Dpi, mm) retained (g) retained greater than (-) mass fraction
sieve size (mm) (xi, -) lesser than (-)
6 3.35 - 0 0 0 1
10 2.00 =(2+3.35)/2 4 0.0172 0.0172 =1-0.0172
=0.9828
14 1.18 =(1.18+2)/2 6 0.0259 =0.0172+0.0259 =0.0431 =1-0.0431
=0.9569
18 0.85 =(0.85+1.18)/2 12 0.0517 =0.0172+0.0259+0.0517 =1-0.0948
=0.0948 =0.9052
25 0.71 25 0.108 =0.0172+0.0259+0.0517+0.1 =1-0.2026
08 =0.2026 =0.7974
30 0.60 40 0.172 0.375 =1-0.375=0.625

35 0.50 60 0.259 0.634 =1-0.634=0.366

40 0.425 38 0.164 0.794 =1-0.794=0.216

45 0.355 24 0.103 0.901 =1-0.901=0.099

50 0.30 12 0.052 0.953 =1-0.953=0.047
60 0.25 =(0.25+0.3)/2 7 0.030 0.983 =1-0.983=0.017
100 0.15 =(0.15+0.25)/2 3 0.013 0.996 =1-0.996=0.004
Pan 0 =(0+0.15)/2 1 0.004 1 0
 Some simple formulae
• How do we relate total mass of ‘N’ number of particles
with the volume of each particle?

• How do we relate total surface area of all the particles (A)

with the surface area of a single particle?

• Is it possible to relate ‘A’ with sphericity?

 Extension to particles of mixed sizes
• What do you do when you are given a certain mass of
sample containing particles of different sizes?
• What data do you get from differential analysis?

• Let ‘m’ be the total mass of particles; xi mass fraction of

particles of size Dpi
 Average (mean) particle diameters(s)
• What do you infer by comparing the following
two equations?
 Other average (mean) particle
diameters(s)
• Arithmetic mean diameter (DN), based on the
number of particles (Ni) of a particle size (Dpi)
• Mass mean diameter (Dw), based on the mass
fraction of particles (xi) of a particle size (Dpi)
• Volume mean diameter (Dw), based on the mass
fraction of particles (xi) of a particle size (Dpi)
 Estimate the different mean diameters
from the following data
Sieve Sieve Nominal opening Particle size (Dpi, Mass Mass fraction
number number / sieve size (mm) mm) retained (g) retained
(xi, -)
6 3.35 - 0 0
10 -6+10 2.00 =(2+3.35)/2 4 =4/232
14 -10+14 1.18 =(1.18+2)/2 6 =6/232

18 -14+18 0.85 =(0.85+1.18)/2 12 =12/232

25 -18+25 0.71 25 =25/232

30 -25+30 0.60 40

35 -30+35 0.50 60

40 -35+40 0.425 38

45 -40+45 0.355 24
50 -45+50 0.30 12
60 -50+60 0.25 =(0.25+0.3)/2 7
100 -60+100 0.15 =(0.15+0.25)/2 3 =3/232
Pan -100+Pan 0 =(0+0.15)/2 1 =1/232
Angle of repose
 Sampling
• Sample: Representative of a
large mass of material
• Sampling: Method of
obtaining sample from a
large mass
• Why is sampling challenging?
– Segregation of material based
on size, surface characteristics https://www.particlesciences.com
/news/technical-briefs/2011/sam
– Non-homogeneity of pling-of-powders.html
cohesive/sticky powders
 Sampling
• Sampling methods
– Static methods
– Dynamic methods
• Static methods
– Scooping
– Thieving
– Cone & quartering

https://www.sampling.com/industrial_scoops.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3290.3127
html
 Sampling
• Dynamic methods
– Table sampling
– Chute splitting
– Spin riffling/Rotary
riffling (best method)

https://www.azomining.com/equipment-detail
s.aspx?EquipID=793

https://www.hoskin.ca/catalog/index.php?mai
n_page=index&cPath=2_823_2389_2390
Golden rules of sampling
https://www.particlesciences.com/news/tec
ical-briefs/2011/sampling-of-powders.html
 Screening
• A method to separate particles according to
size
• Screens made of woven wire, metal bars,
perforated metal plates
• Classification
– Stationary screen
– Vibrating screen
– Gyratory screen
– Vibrating & gyratory screen
 Screening Equipment
Trommel Grizzly
 Screening equipment

Vibrating Vibrating Screen

Grizzly
Screening Equipment

Vibrating sifter
 Gyrating Screen
• Vertically gyrated screen
– Screens inclined at 16-30 degree to the
horizontal
• Gyrations caused by an eccentric fitted
midway between feed & discharge
– 600-1800 rpm

• Fine screens are horizontally gyrated at the feed end &

reciprocating at the discharge end
– Stratifies the feed
 Screening Equipment
• Grizzly: For coarse, free flowing solids
• Blinding: Plugging of screens with solid
particles
– Due to sticky, elongated, soft, flaky particles
• Vibrating screens better than gyrating screens
to prevent blinding