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Particle Size Separation

Particle size separation involves separating a mixture of particles of various sizes into two or more portions based on differences in size. Common methods of particle size separation include sieving, sedimentation, elutriation, and cyclone separation. Sieving uses oscillation or vibration to allow smaller particles to pass through sieve meshes, while sedimentation relies on particles settling at different rates in a liquid based on size.

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534 views

Particle Size Separation

Particle size separation involves separating a mixture of particles of various sizes into two or more portions based on differences in size. Common methods of particle size separation include sieving, sedimentation, elutriation, and cyclone separation. Sieving uses oscillation or vibration to allow smaller particles to pass through sieve meshes, while sedimentation relies on particles settling at different rates in a liquid based on size.

Uploaded by

Himanshu Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Particle size separation

February, 2020
Process Engineering (BITS F219)
Definition
• Size separation is an unit operation that
involves the separation of a mixture of various
sized particles into two or more portions.
• Size separation is also known as sifting,
screening.
Application of size separation
• For preparation of raw materials for tablets
and capsules where specific sized materials
are needed.
• To increase the efficiency of size reduction
equipment
Methods for particle size separation

• Size separation by sieving


• Sedimentation method
• Elutriation method
• Cyclone method
Sieving
• The sieves used for size
analysis and separation are
different.
– Larger volume of materials for
size separation, therefore, larger
in area of sieving surface than
those for size analysis.
– Various techniques are used for
size separation.
• Agitation method
• Brushing method
• Centrifugal method
Agitation method
• Size separation is achieved by electrically induced
1. oscillation, and 2. vibration of the sieve
meshes.
• 3. Gyratory sieve. Sieves are mounted on a
flywheel, which causes rotary movement. The
particles spin, continuously changing their
orientation, and increasing their potential to pass
through a given sieve aperture. Gyratory sieves
are better than oscillatory or vibratory sieves.
Brushing method
• A brush is used to re-orient the particles on
the surface of a sieve and prevent apertures
becoming blocked. A single brush can be
rotated about the mid-point of a circular sieve.
Centrifugal method
• Particles are thrown outward on to a vertical
cylindrical sieve under the action of a high
speed rotor .
Size separation by sedimentation method

• Based on the differences of settling velocities


of the particles with different diameters.
• Simple technique: A chamber containing a
suspension of solid particles in a liquid, usually
water. After a pre-determined time, particles
are collected by using a pipette. Sometimes,
upper layer is collected.
Elutriation method
• In sedimentation method, the fluid is stationary and the separation of particles of various
sizes depends on particle velocity.
• In elutriation, the fluid flows in an opposite direction to the sedimentation movement. In
gravitational elutriators, particles move vertically downwards, while the fluid travels
vertically upwards.
• Upward current of fluid
• If the upward velocity is less than the settling velocity of the particles, sedimentation
occurs, and particles move downwards against the flow of fluid.
• Particles are divided into different size fractions depending on the velocity of the fluid.
• Air may be used as a counter-flow fluid in place of water for
elutriation of water-soluble particles into different size
ranges.
• Upwards airflow elutriator: particles are held on a
supporting mesh through which air is drawn in the chamber.
• Any particles in the air stream are accelerated to a collecting
chamber by passage through a conical section of a tube.
• Further separation of any fine particles entrained in the air
flow may be carried out subsequently by using different air
velocities.
Centrifugal elutriator
Cyclone method
• Cyclone separation is a form of centrifugal elutriation process.
• Reverse flow cyclone separation is the most common technique. Particles in air
or liquid suspension are often introduced tangentially into the cylindrical upper
section of the cyclone, where the relatively high fluid velocity produces a vortex
which throws solid particles out onto the walls. The coarser particles are forced
down the conical section of the cyclone under the influence of the fluid flow.
• At the tip of the conical section, the vortex of fluid is above the critical velocity at
which it can escape through narrow outlet and forms an inner vortex which
travels back up the cyclone and out through a central outlet or vortex finder.
• Coarser particles separate from the fluid stream and fall out of the cyclone
through the bottom outlet, whereas fine particles remain entrained in the fluid
stream and leave the cyclone through the vortex finder.
• A series of cyclones having different flow rates or different dimensions could be
used to separate a powder into different particle size ranges.

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