TUTORIAL FST359

CHAPTER 2: CENTRIFUGE

QUESTION 1

In a centrifuge operating at 70 L/minutes, 50% of the food particles required size was
reduced to 15 µm (d). Given:

Particle density (ps) = 1155 kg/m3

Liquid density (pL) = 1053 kg/m3
Liquid viscosity () = 1.5 Poise

i) Calculate the feasibility value of the centrifuge.

(5 marks)

ii) By using the information shown in Table 1 below, decide if this operation is feasible
to be carried out in a tubular, disc, or decanter centrifuge.
(1 mark)

Table 1: List of centrifuge and its feasibility value

Types of Centrifuge Tubular Disc Decanter
Q liter/minute 10-100 2-2,000 15-2,300
Q/∑ m/s 5-35 x 10 -8 8-50 x 10 -8 500-150,000 x 10-8

ANSWER
kg
Step 1: Convert  into value
ms
u  liquid vis cos ity
u  1.5Poise
g 1kg 100cm
u  1.5  
cm  s 1000g 1m
kg
u  0.15
ms

Step 2: convert d into m value

d  15m
d  15  106 m

gd 2  s   l 
Step 3: use this formula u 
18
 gd 2  s   l 
u
18
9.8115  106  1155  1053
2

u
18  0.15
m
u  8.338  108
s

Step 4: use this formula Q  2 u

Q  2 u
Q
 2u

 28.338  108 
Q m
 s
Q m
 16.67  108
 s
Therefore, the operation is feasible for both tubular and disc bowl centrifuges
QUESTION 2

In a centrifuge operating at 120 L/minutes, 50% of the food particles required size was
reduced to 20 µm (d). Given:

Particle density (ps) = 1750 kg/m3

Liquid density (pL) = 1250 kg/m3
Liquid viscosity () = 2.5 Poise

i) Calculate the feasibility value of the centrifuge.

(5 marks)

ii) By using the information shown in Table 1 below, decide if this operation is feasible
to be carried out in a tubular, disc, or decanter centrifuge.
(1 mark)

Table 1: List of centrifuge and its feasibility value

Types of Centrifuge Tubular Disc Decanter
Q liter/minute 10-100 2-2,000 15-2,300
Q/∑ m/s 5-35 x 10-8 8-50 x 10-8 500-150,000 x 10-8

ANSWER
Step 1: Convert  into kg/m.s value
 = 0.25 kg/m.s

Step 2: convert d into m value

d = 20 x 10-6 m

Step 3: use this formula u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ

u = 43.6 x 10-8 m/s

Step 4: use this formula Q = 2 ∑ u

Q/ = 87.2 x 10-8 m/s

Therefore, the operation is not feasible for all tubular, decanter and disc bowl
centrifuges.
QUESTION 3

In a centrifuge operating at 20 L/minutes, 50% of the food particles required size was
reduced to 18 µm (d). Given:

Particle density (ps) = 1050 kg/m3

Liquid density (pL) = 930 kg/m3
Liquid viscosity () = 0.5 Poise

i) Calculate the feasibility value of the centrifuge.

(5 marks)

ii) By using the information shown in Table 1 below, decide if this operation is feasible
to be carried out in a tubular, disc, or decanter centrifuge.
(1 mark)

Table 1: List of centrifuge and its feasibility value

Types of Centrifuge Tubular Disc Decanter
Q liter/minute 10-100 2-2,000 15-2,300
Q/∑ m/s 5-35 x 10-8 8-50 x 10-8 500-150,000 x 10-8

ANSWER
Step 1: Convert  into kg/m.s value
 = 0.05 kg/m.s

Step 2: convert d into m value

d = 18 x 10-6 m

Step 3: use this formula u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ

u = 42.3 x 10-8 m/s

Step 4: use this formula Q = 2 ∑ u

Q/ = 84.6 x 10-8 m/s

Therefore, the operation is not feasible for all tubular, decanter and disc bowl
centrifuges.
QUESTION 4

A 1000 L tank containing 20% salt solution (density 1130 kg/m3 (l)) at 24oC was mixed
with 17% fine sand (0.3 mm (d) diameter and density 2010 kg/m3 (s)). If the tank was 6.5
m high (h) and the viscosity of water was 1 x 10-3 kg/m.s (µ), estimate the time required
for the sand to settle.

g = 9.81 m/s2 u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ t = h/uo

(3 marks)

ANSWER

Step 1: convert d into m value

d  0.3mm
d  3  104 m
gd 2  s   l 
Step 2: use this formula u 
18
gd 2  s   l 
u
18
9.813  104  2010  1130
2

u
181  103 
m
u  0.0043164
s

h
Step 3: use this formula t 
u0
h
t
u0
6.5m
t
m
0.0043164
s
t  1505.8845s
QUESTION 5

A 1020 L tank containing 15% salt solution (density 1010 kg/m 3 (l)) at 14oC was mixed
with 10% fine sand (0.7 mm (d) diameter and density 1910 kg/m3 (s)). If the tank was 10
m high (h) and the viscosity of water was 1 x 10-3 kg/m.s (µ), estimate the time required
for the sand to settle.

g = 9.81 m/s2 u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ t = h/uo

(3 marks)

ANSWER

Step 1: convert d into m value

d = 7 x 10-4 m

Step 2: use this formula u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ

u = 0.2403 m/s

Step 3: use this formula t = h/uo

t = 41.6146 s

QUESTION 6

A 5500 L tank containing 30% salt solution (density 3700 kg/m 3 (l)) at 27oC was mixed
with 12% fine sand (1.3 mm (d) diameter and density 5910 kg/m3 (s)). If the tank was 16
m high (h) and the viscosity of water was 1 x 10-3 kg/m.s (µ), estimate the time required
for the sand to settle.

g = 9.81 m/s2 u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ t = h/uo

(3 marks)

ANSWER

Step 1: convert d into m value

d = 13 x 10-4 m

Step 2: use this formula u = g d2 (s-l)/18µ

u = 2.0355 m/s

Step 3: use this formula t = h/uo

t = 7.8604 s