Sedimentation

And settling
9.1 Introduction
In industrial separations, sedimentation or settling is referred
as the separation of solid particles dispersed in a liquid or an
immiscible or partially miscible liquid phase dispersed in another
liquid with action of physical forces. Solid particles suspended in a
liquid are called suspensions, whereas liquid droplets dispersed in a
liquid are called emulsions. The separation process of two phases
(solid–liquid or liquid–liquid) is designed according to which phase(s)
are considered valuable as a product or intermediate for future
processing

9.2 Gravity sedimentation

Gravity sedimentation is a process of solid–liquid separation
under the effect of gravity. A slurry feed is separated into underflow
slurry of higher solids concentration and an overflow of predominantly
clear liquid. Difference in density between the solids and the
suspending liquid is a necessary prerequisite. Flocculation agents are
often used to enhance settling. Sedimentation is used in industry for
solid–liquid separation and solid–solid separation. In solid–liquid
separation, the solids are removed from the liquid either because the
solids or the liquid are valuable or because these have to be separated
before disposal. If the clarity of the overflow is of primary importance,
the process is called clarification and the feed slurry is usually dilute.
If the primary purpose is the production of concentrated slurry, the
process is called thickening and the feed slurry is usually more
concentrated.

9.2.1 Sedimentation mechanisms

Gravity sedimentation
9.2.3 Hindered settling
This hindered rate of sedimentation appears to depend only on volume
fraction of the particles, ε:
9.2.4 Continuous sedimentation tank (gravity-settling tank)
Figure 9.5 illustrates a tank for the continuous removal of solid
particles from a process liquid. The liquid is introduced at one end of
the tank and flows toward the outlet at the other end.
in Figure 9.6. This increases the number of separation channels to N, each with a throughput:
 9.2.5 Gravity sedimentation equipment

Two distinct forms of sedimentation vessels are in common usage. The

clarifier is used for the clarification of a dilute suspension to obtain an overflow
containing minimal suspended solids. In a thickener the suspension is
concentrated to obtain an underflow with high solid content while also
producing a clarified overflow. Sedimentation equipment can be divided into
batch settling tanks and continuous thickeners or clarifiers. Most commercial
equipment is built for continuous sedimentation in relatively simple settling
tanks