CHEE 2940 Particle Processing 2006 – Assignment #1

Due 5 PM Tuesday 7 March - Chemical Engineering Office

1. For a cube with dimensions 5.00 x 5.00 x 5.00 mm, calculate the following parameters:
a) Equivalent volume diameter (2 marks),
b) Equivalent surface diameter (2 marks),
c) Sauter diameter (2 marks), and
d) Corresponding sphericities (8 marks).

2. Below is the result of a particle size analysis:

Aperture size (mm or µm) amount retained (g)
-10 mm +9.5 0.36
-9.5 +6.8 5.16
-6.8 +4.75 24.36
-4.75 +3.4 50.04
-3.4 +2.36 83.64
-2.36 +1.7 115.08
-1.7 +1.18 131.28
-1.18 +850 µm 129.6
-850 +600 118.92
-600 +425 101.04
-425 +300 85.44
-300 +212 73.2
-212 +150 62.76
-150 +106 52.56
-106 +75 46.2
-75 +53 34.92
-53 +38 25.68
-38 0 59.76

a) Determine the mass fractions of the amounts retained, the (arithmetic) mean diameter
(using the mid-point diameter for each size range), and the standard deviation. Show your
table. (16 marks)

b) Determine the cumulative oversized and undersized, and complete the following table. (15
marks)

Assignment #1-1
Size range Mid-point Mass Mass Cumulative Cumulative
retained fraction Undersized Oversized
(micron) di (micron) (g) γi P Q
0
0 - 38 59.760
38 - 53 25.680
53 - 75 34.920
75 - 106 46.200
106 - 150 52.560
150 - 212 62.760
212 - 300 73.200
300 - 425 85.440
425 - 600 101.040
600 - 850 118.920
850 - 1180 129.600
1180 - 1700 131.280
1700 - 2360 115.080
2360 - 3400 83.640
3400 - 4750 50.040
4750 - 6800 24.360
6800 - 9500 5.160
9500 - 10000 0.360
sum 1200

c) Plot the particle size distribution as a histogram, normalised histogram and continuous
distribution (normal axes and lognormal axes), cumulative oversized and undersized products
(normal axes and lognormal axes). (25 marks)

d) Determine the most frequent (mode) diameter and median diameter of the particles. You
can use the available tables and diagrams in the answers to the above questions. Show your
answers on the diagrams. (10 marks)

e) Determine the volume-equivalent, surface-equivalent, and Sauter-equivalent diameters of

the particles (using the mid-point diameter for each size range). Show your table. (20 marks)

Assignment #1-2
 Solutions

1a. Equivalent volume diameter (2 marks):

6V 6 × 53
d volume = 3 = 3 = 6.2 mm
π π
1b. Equivalent surface diameter (2 marks):

A 6 × 52
d surface = = = 6.9 mm
π π
1c. Sauter diameter (2 marks):
3
6V d sphere
d Sauter = = 2 = 5.0 mm
A d surface

Volume sphericity (2 marks): ψ V = π ( dV ) / A = 0.81

2
1d.

Surface sphericity (2 marks): ψ A = π ( d A ) / ( 6V ) = 1.38

3

Sauter-diameter sphericities:
ψ VA = π ( d32 ) / A = 0.52 (2 marks)
2

ψ AV = π ( d32 ) / ( 6V ) = 0.52 (2 marks)

3

2a. The table is shown below. (4 marks)

Size range Mid-point Mass Mass fraction Mean Standard deviation

retained diam
2 2
(micron) di (micron) (g) γi di * γi (di - d) * γi di * γi

00 - 38 19 59.76 0.050 0.946 65561.804 17.978

38 - 53 45.5 25.68 0.021 0.974 26886.804 44.303
53 - 75 64 34.92 0.029 1.862 35364.126 119.194
75 - 106 90.5 46.2 0.039 3.484 44565.201 315.325
106 - 150 128 52.56 0.044 5.606 47227.448 717.619
150 - 212 181 62.76 0.052 9.466 50782.880 1713.400
212 - 300 256 73.2 0.061 15.616 50557.324 3997.696
300 - 425 362.5 85.44 0.071 25.810 46012.140 9356.125
425 - 600 512.5 101.04 0.084 43.153 36001.491 22115.656
600 - 850 725 118.92 0.099 71.848 19307.105 52089.438
850 - 1180 1015 129.6 0.108 109.620 2475.220 111264.300
1180 - 1700 1440 131.28 0.109 157.536 8189.995 226851.840
1700 - 2360 2030 115.08 0.096 194.677 71524.476 395194.310
2360 - 3400 2880 83.64 0.070 200.736 204671.388 578119.680
3400 - 4750 4075 50.04 0.042 169.928 352782.688 692454.563
4750 - 6800 5775 24.36 0.020 117.233 431157.649 677017.688
6800 - 9500 8150 5.16 0.004 35.045 209714.522 285616.750
9500 - 10000 9500 0.36 0.000 2.85 20834.720 27075.000

sum 1200 1.000 1166.389 1723616.981 3084080.864

Assignment #1-3
The mass fractions of the amounts retained are shown in the fourth column. (4 marks)

The calculation of the mean diameter is shown by the firth column, which gives
m
d = ∑ γ i di = 1166.389 µm. (4 marks)
i =1

The standard deviation can be calculated in two ways which are shown by the last two
columns. 4 marks
- The first way gives
m

∑γ (d − d ) = 1723616.981 = 1312.866 µ m
2
σ= i i
i =1

- The second way gives

 m

σ = ∑ γ i ( di )  − ( d ) = 3084080.864 − 1166.3892 = 1312.866 µ m
2 2

 i =1 
The two calculations give the same result.

2b. The completed table is shown below.

Size range Mid-point Mass Mass fraction Cumulative Cumulative

retained Undersized Oversized
(micron) di (micron) (g) γi P Q
0 0 0 0 1.000
0 - 38 19 59.76 0.050 0.050 0.950
38 - 53 45.5 25.68 0.021 0.071 0.929
53 - 75 64 34.92 0.029 0.100 0.900
75 - 106 90.5 46.2 0.039 0.139 0.861
106 - 150 128 52.56 0.044 0.183 0.817
150 - 212 181 62.76 0.052 0.235 0.765
212 - 300 256 73.2 0.061 0.296 0.704
300 - 425 362.5 85.44 0.071 0.367 0.633
425 - 600 512.5 101.04 0.084 0.451 0.549
600 - 850 725 118.92 0.099 0.550 0.450
850 - 1180 1015 129.6 0.108 0.658 0.342
1180 - 1700 1440 131.28 0.109 0.768 0.232
1700 - 2360 2030 115.08 0.096 0.864 0.136
2360 - 3400 2880 83.64 0.070 0.933 0.067
3400 - 4750 4075 50.04 0.042 0.975 0.025
4750 - 6800 5775 24.36 0.020 0.995 0.005
6800 - 9500 8150 5.16 0.004 1.000 0.000
9500 - 10000 9500 0.36 0.000 1.000 0.000
sum 1200

Cumulative undersized = (5 marks); Cumulative oversized = (5 marks); Table = (5 marks)

Assignment #1-4
2c. The histogram for the particle size distribution is obtained by plotting the third versus first
column in the table shown in the answer to Q. 2b. (5 marks)

140
120
Mass retained (g)

100
80
60
40
20
0

00 60

00 50

0
00 80
21 50

42 00

0
5
8

50
85 60
-7
-3

34 23

68 47
1
-1

-3

-9
-1
-
53
0

-
6

0
10

17

Size range (micron)

The normalised histogram for the particle size distribution is obtained by plotting the fourth
versus first column in the table shown in the answer to Q. 2b. (5 marks)

0.120
0.100
Mass fraction

0.080
0.060
0.040
0.020
0.000
21 150

42 300

0
10 - 75

00 80
8

0 0 60

00 5 0

0
85 - 60
-3

50
17 11

34 - 23

68 - 47
-9
-

-
53
0

-
6

5
0

Size range (micron)

Assignment #1-5
The continuous distribution is obtained by plotting the fourth versus second column in the
table shown in the answer to Q. 2b. The horizontal axe can be in either the normal or
lognormal scale. (7 marks)

0.12

0.08
f(d)

0.04

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
d (microns)

0.12

0.08
f(d)

0.04

0
10 100 1000 10000
log(d/microns)

Assignment #1-6
The curves for cumulative oversized and undersized products can be obtained by plotting the
firth and sixth versus second column in the table shown in the answer to Q. 2b. The horizontal
axe can be in either the normal or lognormal scale. (8 marks)

1
Undersized
0.8
Cumulative mass fraction

0.6

0.4

0.2
Oversized

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
d (microns)

1
Undersized

0.8 Oversized
Cumulative mass fraction

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
10 100 1000 10000
d (microns)

Assignment #1-7
2d. The mode diameter can be best determined at the maximum frequency distribution which
is about 1400 ± 50 mm (see the column for mass retained or mass fraction in the answer to Q.
2a or 2b). The diameter on the horizontal axis of the frequency distribution is shUhown by the
red arrow in the following diagram. (5 marks)

0.12

0.08
f(d)

0.04

Mode
0
10 100 1000 10000
log(d/microns)

The median diameter can be best determined at the 50% of cumulative oversized or
undersized product distribution which is about 618 ± 5 mm (see the column for mass retained
or mass fraction in the answer to Q. 2a or 2b). The diameter on the horizontal axis of the
frequency distribution is shown by the red arrow in the following diagram. (5 marks)

Assignment #1-8
2e. The table showing the calculation is given below. (5 marks)

Size range Mid-point Mass Mass fraction Surface Equivalent Volume Equivalent
retained
2 3
(micron) di (micron) (g) γi di * γi di * γi
0 0 0 0 0
0 - 38 19 59.76 0.050 17.978 341.578
38 - 53 45.5 25.68 0.021 44.303 2015.802
53 - 75 64 34.92 0.029 119.194 7628.390
75 - 106 90.5 46.2 0.039 315.325 28536.879
106 - 150 128 52.56 0.044 717.619 91855.258
150 - 212 181 62.76 0.052 1713.400 310125.454
212 - 300 256 73.2 0.061 3997.696 1023410.176
300 - 425 362.5 85.44 0.071 9356.125 3391595.313
425 - 600 512.5 101.04 0.084 22115.656 11334273.828
600 - 850 725 118.92 0.099 52089.438 37764842.188
850 - 1180 1015 129.6 0.108 111264.300 112933264.500
1180 - 1700 1440 131.28 0.109 226851.840 326666649.600
1700 - 2360 2030 115.08 0.096 395194.310 802244449.300
2360 - 3400 2880 83.64 0.070 578119.680 1664984678.400
3400 - 4750 4075 50.04 0.042 692454.563 2821752342.188
4750 - 6800 5775 24.36 0.020 677017.688 3909777145.313
6800 - 9500 8150 5.16 0.004 285616.750 2327776512.500
9500 - 10000 9500 0.36 0.000 27075.000 257212500.000

Sum 1200 3084080.864 12277302166.666

Volume equivalent diameter: (5 marks)

∑γ d = 3 12277302166.666 = 2306.929 µ m
3
dV = 3
i i
i =1

Surface equivalent diameter: (5 marks)

∑γ d = 3 3084080.864 = 1756.155 µ m
2
dA = 2
i i
i =1

Sauter diameter: (5 marks)

m

∑γ d
3
i i
12277302166.666
d Sauter = i =1
m
= = 3980.863 µ m
3084080.864
∑γ d
2
i i
i =1

Assignment #1-9
 π di 2 π di 3
Note: The surface area and volume for each fraction should be γ i and γ i , respectively. For
4 6
simplicity, the numerical factors have been dropped off in the above calculation. If the full expressions
for the surface area and volume are used, the equivalent diameters should be calculated in the same
way, i.e.,

π d A2 m
π di 2 4 m
π di 2 π dV 3 m
π di 3 6 m
π di 3
=∑ γi ∴ dA = ∑ γ i and =∑ γ i ∴ dV = 3
∑ γi .
4 i =1 4 π i =1 4 6 i =1 6 π i =1 6

If the full expressions for the surface area and volume are used, the numbers in the last two columns
should be different but the results for the equivalent diameters should be the same as those shown
above.

Assignment #1-10