CH3083 Particle & Powder Technology

Tutorial 2 Sheet
Terminal Velocity
1. A particle of 2 mm in diameter and density of 2500 kg/m3 is settling in a stagnant
fluid in the Stokes’ flow regime.
(a) Calculate the viscosity of the fluid if the fluid density is 1000 kg/m 3 and the
particle falls at a terminal velocity of 4 mm/s.
(b) What is the drag force on the particle at these conditions?
(c) What is the particle drag coefficient at these conditions?
(d) What is the particle acceleration at these conditions?
(e) What is the apparent weight of the particle?
2. A particle of equivalent volume diameter 0.3 mm, density 2000 kg/m3 and sphericity
0.6 falls freely under gravity in a fluid of density 1.2kg/m3 and viscosity 2 x 10-5 Pa s.
Estimate the terminal velocity reached by the particle.
Ans. 0.089m/s
3. A particle of equivalent volume diameter 0.2 mm, density 2000 kg/m3 and sphericity
0.6 falls freely under gravity in a fluid of density 1.0kg/m3 and viscosity 2 x 10-5 Pa s.
Estimate the terminal velocity reached by the particle.
Ans. 0.075m/s
4. A spherical particle of density 1500 kg/m3 has a terminal velocity of 1 cm/s in a fluid
of density 800 kg/m3 and viscosity 0.001 Pa s. Estimate the diameter of the particle.
Ans. 175m
5. Estimate the largest diameter of spherical particle of density 2000 kg/m3 which
would be expected to obey Stokes’ law in air of density 1.2kg/m3 and viscosity 18 x
10-6 Pa s.
Ans. 42m
Settling
6. Spherical particles of density 2500 kg/m3 and in the size range 20–100 m are fed
continuously into a stream of water (density, 1000 kg/m3 and viscosity, 0.001 Pa s)
flowing upwards in a vertical, large diameter pipe. What maximum water velocity is
required to ensure that no particles of diameter greater than 60 m are carried
upwards with water?
Ans. 2.9 mm/s

7. Spherical particles of density 2000 kg/m3 and in the size range 20–100 m are fed
continuously into a stream of water (density, 1000 kg/m3 and viscosity, 0.001 Pa s)
flowing upwards in a vertical, large diameter pipe. What maximum water velocity is
required to ensure that no particles of diameter greater than 50 m are carried
upwards with the water?
Ans. 1.4 mm/s
Dr C. Mangwandi

Terminal Velocity & Settling

CH3083 Particle & Powder Technology

Dr C. Mangwandi

Terminal Velocity & Settling

CH3083 Particle & Powder Technology

Dr C. Mangwandi Terminal Velocity & Settling

CH3083 Particle & Powder Technology

Dr C. Mangwandi Terminal Velocity & Settling