712 Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev.

1982, 21, 712-717

Performance of a Commercial Scale 1 4 % Hole Area Sieve Tray

Takashl Yanagl and Mlchiharu Sakata'

Fractimatlon Research, Inc., South Pasadena, Callfornia 9 1030

Experimental data obtained in a 1.2 m diameter distillation research column with a 14% hole area single path
cross-fiow sieve tray having 12.7 mm diameter hobs on 30.2 mm triangular centers are reported. The data include:
(1) capacity, (2) pressure drop, (3) tray efficiency, and (4) entrainment. The data were obtained on the following
systems: (1) cyclohexane-n-heptane at 34 and 165 kPa, and (2) isobutane-n-butane at 1138 kPa. The 14%
sieve tray data are also compared to the 8% sieve tray data obtained under identical experimental Conditions to
illustrate the effect of hole area on sieve tray perfomnce. In summary, the 14% hole area tray exhibited a slight
increase in vapor capacity by 5 to 10% over the 8% hole area tray for two of the three systems studied. In
addition, tray pressure drops were lower by 1 to 3 kPa and entrainment was also lower for the larger hole area
tray. Tray efficiency was slightly lower by about 10% for the 14% hole area tray at comparable conditions.

Introduction Table I. Tray Design Detail

This paper presents experimental data obtained by column diameter, m 1.2
Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI), in a 1.2 m diameter tray spacing, m m 610
distillation research column located in Alhambra, CA. The perforated sheet, material 316 SS
data were obtained with a 14% hole area single path perforated sheet, thickness, m m 1.5
crass-flow sieve tray having 12.7 mm diameter holes on 30.2 edge of hole facing vapor flow sharp
hole diameter and spacing, mm x m m 12.7 X 30.2
mm triangular centers. The data include: (1)capacity, outlet weir, height X length, m m X m m 25.4, 50.8 X 940
(2) pressure drop, (3) tray efficiency, and (4) entrainment. inlet weir none
The experiments were conducted over a wide range of clearance under downcomer, m m 22, 38
system properties and flow conditions with the following downcomer area, m z 0.14
systems: (1) cyclohexane-n-heptane (C6-C,) at 34 and 165 effective bubbling area, m 2 0.859
hole area, m z 0.118
kPa and (2) isobutane-n-butane (iC4-nC,) at 1138 kPa.
The data are also compared to previously published data
(Sakata and Yanagi, 1979) obtained with an 8% hole area Table 11. Average Physical Properties of the Test
Systems under Operating Conditionsa
single path cross-flow sieve tray having 12.7 mm diameter
holes on 38.1 mm triangular centers to examine the effect system
of hole area on sieve tray performance. The 8% sieve tray cyclohexane- isobutane-
was also tested in the same 1.2 m diameter distillation n-heptane n-butane
research column. pressure, kPa 34 165 1138
The intent of this paper is not to compare published vapor density, 1.1 4.8 28
methods of sieve tray design to these data but to make kg m - 3
available experimental information on large-scale sieve liquid density, 700 641 493
trays on a wide range of systems. These data, along with kg m - 3
the 8% sieve tray data,can be compared to work developed liquid viscosity, 0.37 0.23 0.09
from smaller scale studies or used in the development of mPa s
surf ace tension, 18.5 13.5 5.0
sieve tray design models. mN m - '
Experimental Equipment relative volatility 1.84 1.57 1.23
Distillation Column. A detailed description of the Lenoir and Sakata (1978); Zuiderweg (1969).
facilities and operational procedures has been given pre-
viously (Silvey and Keller, 1966,1969). The data described was withdrawn by gravity flow, metered, and recycled back
in this paper were obtained from the low-pressure column to the column through the reflux accumulator. Liquid
where the maximum operating pressure is 1138 kPa. samples were withdrawn from the downcomer seal pan as
Tray Design. Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of the the outlet sample of the tray above to evaluate the internal
test tray installed in the column. The sieve tray tested had conditions. Tray design details pertinent to the experi-
a bubbling area of 74% of the column area. The segmental ment are given in Table I.
downcomer and the downcomer seal area each occupied
approximately 13% of the column area. The trays had an Test Mixtures and Test Procedures
average of 930 holes, 12.7 mm in diameter on 30.2 trian- Systems. The distillation experiments were conducted
gular centers. The total hole area of the tray was a nominal with the cyclohexane-n-heptane system at pressures of 34
14% of the bubbling area. The outlet weir was 51 mm high and 165 kPa and with the isobutane-n-butane system at
and 940 mm long except for the entrainment studies where a pressure of 1138 kPa. The approximate physical prop-
the weir height was 25 mm. Eight to ten trays were used erties for the systems at the test pressures are given in
in these experiments, and they were installed 610 mm Table 11.
apart, For entrainment studies, the top tray was employed Capacity. Capacity runs were made at total reflux and
as an entrainment collection tray and was identical with several additional liquid loads. These maximum attainable
the other trays except there was no downcomer or liquid rates under stable conditions, or incipient flooding runs,
cross flow. Liquid from the entrainment collection tray were determined for sieve trays by procedures previously
0196-4305/82/1121-0712$01.25/0 0 1982 American Chemical Society
 Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., Vol. 21, No. 4, 1982 713

381 "-1 3 8 1 mm+

t
I

I* T O T A L REFLUX)

0 ISOBUTANE-N-BUTANE. 1138 k P l
\ -
0 CYCLOHEXANE-N+iEPTANE . 165 kPa
8 CYCLOHEXANE-N4lEPTANE .34 k P l

F, lW.1 0 . 8 2 F. (Enol.)
1 x lo+ m3/1 15.85 galimln

0 10 20 30 10

LIQUID R A T E (m3-s-') x l o 3

1.2 m COLUMN ID
Figure 2. Flooding capacity of 14% hole area sieve tray.

0 ISOBUTLNE-NWTANE I138 kPa

0 CYCLOHEXANE-N.NEPTANE. 165 k h
0 CYCLOHEXANE-N-HEPTANE . 34 kPa

LL
w
>
4
a
80 c
c
d
d
Figure 1. Diagram of test tray.

described (Silvey and Keller, 1966).
Efficiency. Efficiency studies were conducted at total
reflux. Samples of the tray outlet liquid were obtained
from the bottom of the outlet downcomer and were ana-
lyzed by vapor phase chromatography for the isobutane-
n-butane mixture and by refractive index for the cyclo-
hexane-n-heptane mixture. Accuracy of the analysis were
within 1% on a relative basis. From profiles of tray com-
positions in terms of smoothed semilogarithmic plots of
x/(l - x ) against tray location, overall tray efficiencies were
evaluated. The Fenske-Underwood equation (Fenske,
1932; Underwood, 1932) served as a basis of data inter-
pretation where
This method of interpreting the data serves as a means
to determine separation performance as well as to screen
out inconsistent data (Silvey and Keller, 1966, 1969).
Pressure Drop. Tray pressure drop measurements
were taken at total reflux conditions. Pressure drop taps
were located to obtain readings over single trays and
groups of trays. These pressure drop readings were av-
eraged t o a per tray basis.
Entrainment. Measurements of entrainment were
obtained at total reflux and at several constant liquid load
conditions. The following standardized procedure was
used to obtain the entrainment data. (1) For a given
condition, the vapor rate was adjusted by incrementa until
a high entrainment rate was obtained. (2) Conditions in
the column were held constant until equilibrium was
reached and all necessary data were recorded. (3) The
procedure was repeated a t regular intervals by reducing
40tc
4
a
w
>
0
I
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
PERCENT FLOOD
Figure 3. Overall tray efficiency at total reflux.
the vapor rate in a stepwise manner. Intervals were se-
lected to obtain at least three and preferably five en-
trainment readings for each liquid load.
Discussion of Results
Capacity. The capacity of the 14% sieve tray with the
three systems tested is shown in Figure 2. It is evident
that the vapor capacity of sieve trays is complicated by
system property effects as well as the effect of liquid rate.
The capacity of the tray under most circumstances is
limited by one of two mechanisms; Le., a tray may flood
either due to downcomer limitation or massive entrain-
ment. Downcomer or liquid handling limitations usually
result under high liquid loads, especially with higher
pressure systems due to the accumulative hydraulic re-
sistances of tray pressure drop, downcomer exit loss, and
the liquid head at the outlet of the downcomer. Flooding
due to massive entrainment or liquid carryover by the
vapor from tray to tray usually occurs at lower liquid
loadings and with lower pressure systems. The type of
mechanism causing flood results from a combination of
operating conditions, i.e., properties and rates as well as
hardware design.
Efficiency. The overall tray efficiencies for the three
systems tested are shown in Figure 3. An effect of
pressure is evident for the cyclohexane-n-heptane mixture
over comparable percentages of flood.
Pressure Drop. Tray pressure drop measurements are
shown in Figure 4 at total reflux for the systems tested.
The effect of excessive weeping on the tray pressure drop
714 Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., Vol. 21, No. 4, 1982

5.0 I l 5 I 2.0 r 1 , I
0 ISOBUTANE-N.BUTAHE . I138 LPa
0 CYCLOHEXANE-N4lEPTAHE. 165 LPs
-
LIQUID L O A D O V E R W E I R
0 CYCLOHEXANE-HMPTAHE . 34 kPa

n
0
K
n -
w I
K - I
3 I
v)
v)

ENTRAINMENT AS
a PERCENT OF VAPOR

i
c ( D A S H E D L I N E S INDICATE
WEEPING IN PROGRESS)

0.01
0.01 0.1 1.0 5.0 W 1 2 3
SUPERFICIAL VAPOR VELOCITY (m.s-l) VAPOWBUBBLING AREA (kg-s-1-m-2)

Figure 4. Tray presaure drop at total reflux. Figure 6. Entrainment plots a t constant liquid loads for cyclo-
hexane-n-heptane at 35 kPa.
I I
I /o -I
a
W

It
a
a
Q
E-I 0.1
m m
m m
3
B
W
c ENTRAINMENT RATE
a 0 0.50 kgs-’m+
K
c
z
n 0.10

:
E
0 0.02

a
K
$
W
0.002 ‘
2 4 6 8
LIQUID LOAD OVER WEIR (m2.s-’) x lo3
VAPOR RATE/BUBBLING AREA (kg.s-’.m-*)
Figure 7. Crossplota of vapor rates at constant entrainment rates
Figure 5. Entrainment plots at constant liquid loads for cyclo- for cyclohexane-n-heptane a t 165 kPa.
hexane-n-heptane at 165 kPa.

for the C6-C, system at 165 kPa and the butane system
is clearly evident as a large reduction in pressure drop for
an incremental decrease in the superficial vapor rate. A 1
reduction in efficiency was observed for the corresponding i
points as illustrated in Figure 3. a
W
Entrainment. Effect of Vapor Rate. Entrainment K
a
measurements were obtained a t several constant liquid
rates. Sets of measured entrainment rates as a function
of vapor rate and liquid rate for the cyclohexanen-heptane
system at 165 and 34 kPa are illustrated in Figures 5 and ENTRAINMENT RATE
6. For reference, curves for entrainment rates as per- 0 0 . 5 0 kg.s-1m-2
centages of the vapor rate are also shown. The strong k
K
dependence of entrainment on the vapor rate is clearly
shown. At some conditions, a 10% change in vapor rate
results in a tenfold change in entrainment. >
Effect of Liquid Rate. From entrainment curves such 0 4 8 I2 16

as Figures 5 and 6, crossplots of the vapor rate against the
liquid rate at constant entrainment levels were obtained
for these systems. Although the figures are shown for
constant mass flux rates of entrainment, similar plots can
be obtained for constant percent entrainment levels with
similar trends. The complex nature of the effect of liquid
load on entrainment is shown in Figures 7 and 8. De-
pending on the liquid rate, entrainment rate and system,
the vapor rate required to generate a given entrainment
LIQUID LOAD OVER WEIR (m2*s-’) X lo3
Figure 8. Crossplots of vapor rates at constant entrainment rates
for cyclohexane-n-heptane at 34 kPa.
level either increases or decreases with increasing liquid
rate. One plausible explanation is that at the low liquid
rates, there is less liquid head on the tray to impede the
effects of vapor momentum and high entrainment rates
result. As the liquid rate is increased, the liquid head
 Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., Vol. 21, No. 4, 1982 715

,
N
r
I .
0

E
+-b
r
2.0 -

‘?
E
1

N
,
c

g 1.0-
8 14%
m

,
5 A 8%
II
I n -
U Y

0
0 IO 20 30 40 0 IO 20 30 40
LIQUID RATE (m3.s-l) x lo3 LIQUID R A T E (m3.s-’) x lo3
Figure 9. Effect of hole area on flooding capacity for isobutanen- Figure 11. Effect of hole area on flooding capacity for cyclo-
butane at 1138 kPa. hexane-n-heptane at -30 kPa.
3.0 I 1 I I
1
N I 1
A ISOBUTANE-NWTANE . 1138 k h
8 0 A CVCLOHEXANE-N+lEPTLNE . 165 kPa

Ni i
r

>
W 601

u.
0
I 0

d b 4
0 IO 20 30 40
_.
0 1 .o 2.0 3.0
LIQUID R A T E (m3-s-‘) x io3
Figure 10. Effect of hole area on flooding capacity for cyclo- Fs = Vsp,1/2 (m.~-~)*(kg~m-~)”*
hexanen-heptane at 165 kPa. Figure 12. Effect of hole area on tray efficiency.
increases to increasingly dampen the effects of the mo- 5.0
mentum of the vapor, thus more vapor is required tQ attain - M E I
1

A ISOBUTLNE-N.BUTANE~ 1138 kPa

the same level of entrainment. As liquid rate is increased - 0 A CYCLOHEXANE-N+IEPTANE. I65 kPa A
further, more vapor is required to generate entrainment, e A
m
but in addition, the liquid level also keeps increasing, ef-
fectively reducing the tray spacing or deentrainment zone -
n
Y

in the vapor space. Beyond a point where these two effects

are balanced, further increases in liquid rate reduce the
n
P
O
t
effective de-entrainment zone resulting in higher en- W
a
trainment rates. =I
fn
t 1

fn
Comparisons to 8% Sieve Tray W -
a 0.1 i
The data obtained with the 14% sieve tray with 12.7 mm n
diameter holes are compared to data obtained with an 8%
sieve tray with an identical hole diameter of 12.7 mm
a
I- /
d (DASHED LINES INDICATE
/. WEEPING IN PROGRESS)
(Sakata and Yanagi, 1979) to examine the effect of hole
area on the performance of sieve trays. Both trays were d
tested in the same 1.2-m low-pressure distillation research
column under identical test conditions and the same test
systems. The hardware configurations were similar for
both tests with the main difference being the tray panels
used for the respective hole area tray.
Capacity. The capacities of the two trays with the
systems tested are shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11. The
14% sieve tray exhibited approximately 5 to 10% higher
capacity with the C6-C, system at both pressures; however,
the capacities of both trays were nearly identical with the
butane system. This similarity in capacities for the butane
system may be attributable to the mechanism for the ca-
 .
716 Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., Vol. 21, No. 4, 1982

-
N
8, I Table 111. Sample of Typical F R I Distillation Unit
Experimental DataC for
E Cyclohexane-n-Heptane System, 34 KPa
?
-
-
0
X run number
run typea
624
A
625
A,B,C
628
B,C
726
D
4
w
conditions based o n 4 4 4 5

I
a CYCLOHEXANE-N+IEPTANE. 165 kPa
tray no.
4
vapor density, 1.20 1.12 1.03 0.95
c1
I-I kg/m3
m liquid density, 686 703 718 705
a kg/m3
? vapor rate, kg/s 2.60 2.82 1.69 1.95
W
I-
liquid rate, m 3 / h 56.78 14.45 8.47 2.66
4
CYCLOHEXANE-NdlEPTANE . -30 kPa
entrainment, kg/s 0.365
a
a j tray pressure 1.024 0.858 0.393
0 r drop, kPa
n 0.50 kg.s.'.m'2 ENTRAINMENT RATE
4
>
i overall tray efficiency, 41.1 70.8
%
0 IO 20 30 visual observations 4 4 4
o n tray no.
LIQUID LOAD OVER WEIR (m2.s-') x l o 3 spray height, m m 610 610 17 8
Figure 14. Effect of hole area on the entrainment characteristics linkage o n t o tray none none Mod
(vapor rate at constant entrainment rate). temperature, "C
overhead vapor 52.9 47.1 45.7 50.6
reflux 33.3 36.5 38.3 36.3
efficiency of the 8% sieve tray was consistently higher by tray 9 outlet 54.4 48.7 46.4
about 10% on a relative basis than that of the 14% sieve tray 8 outlet 55.5 50.1 47.2
tray for the three test systems. tray 7 outlet 56.4 51.1 47.8
tray 6 outlet 57.5 52.4 48.7
Pressure Drop. The tray pressure drop at total reflux tray 5 outlet 58.4 53.9 49.7 51.1
of the two trays are compared in Figure 13. As expected, tray 4 outlet 59.2 55.4 51.2
the tray with the higher hole area had a lower pressure tray 3 outlet 59.9 57.2 52.9 53.5
drop at all of the conditions tested. Pressure drops for the tray 2 outlet 60.5 59.4 55.1
14% hole area tray ranged from 1to 3 kPa lower than the tray 1 outlet 55.1
reboiler vapor 62.2 64.0 60.6 55.3
8% tray. reboiler liquid 62.5 64.3 60.2 55.8
Entrainment. Figure 14 compares the entrainment composition of liquid,
characteristics of the 14% sieve tray against the 8% sieve mole % cyclohexane
tray on the C,&, system at the two pressures tested. Both reflux 59.6 88.05 98.8 74.05
trays exhibited similar trends in entrainment character- tray 1 0 outlet 86.9 97.4
istics; however, the 14% tray required more vapor by about tray 9 outlet 85.15 95.7
tray 8 outlet 49.0 83.35 93.7
10% for liquid loadings up to 0.01 m2 s-l to attain a fixed tray 7 outlet 80.7
level of entrainment at any given liquid rate compared to tray 6 outlet 76.5
the 8% sieve tray; i.e., the 14% tray entrains less than the tray 5 outlet 81.9 62.05
8% tray. tray 4 outlet 49.0 63.55 73.2
A sample of typical data obtained with the FRI distil- tray 3 outlet 56.5
lation unit is given in Table 111. tray 1 outlet 50.0
reboiler liquid 44.5 29.4 28.4 48.4

Conclusion A, flooding; B, total reflux efficiency; C, pressure

Performance characteristics of a 14% hole area single
path cross-flow sieve tray have been obtained with systems
that cover a wide range of properties in a commercial scale
installation. Previously, performance characteristics of an
8% sieve tray obtained under identical experimental
conditions have been published, and the results are com-
pared to the 14% sieve tray data. Although the results
from these two studies are not typical of all sieve tray
designs, certain findings such as the influence of system
properties, liquid loadings, and hole areas on capacity,
efficiency, pressure drop, and entrainment can be impor-
tant to hardware design and optimum operating condi-
tions.
It was found that the capacity of the 14% hole area tray
was slightly greater than that of the 8% tray for the cy-
clohexane-n-heptane mixtures. No difference in capacity
was obtained on the butane system, however, for the two
trays. Pressure drop and entrainment were lower for the
higher hole area tray at comparable rates. Tray efficiency
suffered slightly with the larger hole area tray.
The results from these controlled experimental tests of
a commercial nature are useful for comparison to existing
design technology as well as the development of new sieve
tray design methods.
drop; D, entrainment (25 m m outlet weir height).
Abbreviations for leakage: HVY, heavy; MOD, mod-
erate; LT, light; SLT,slight. e Additional experimental
data for the 14 and 8% trays used t o generate the figures
in this paper will be made available on request to the
authors.
Nomenclature
E, = overall tray efficiency
Fs = F fador based on am-sectional area of tower (= V S ~ ~ ' / ~ )
N , = actual number of trays
Nt = theoretical number of trays
V , = vapor velocity based on cross-sectional area of tower,
m s-l
x = mole fraction of more volatile component in liquid phase
xB = mole fraction of more volatile component in liquid phase
at bottom of section of trays
XT = mole fraction of more volatile component in liquid phase
at top of section of trays
Greek Letters
a = relative volatility
pv = vapor density, kg m-3
Literature Cited
Fenske, M. R. Ind. Eng. Chem. 1952, 24, 482.
Lenoir, J. M.; Sakata, M. I d . Eng. Chem. Fundam. 1978, 77, 72
 Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev. $902, 21, 717-721 717

Sakata, M.; Yanagi, T. In “Dlstilletion-l979”;Institution of Chemical Engi-
neers Symposium Series No. 56; Institution of Chemical Engineers: Rug
by, 1979, Vol. I , p 3.2121.
S k y . F. C.; Keller, 0. J. Chem. Eng. Prog. 1988, 62(1). 66.
Silvey. F. C.; Keller, 0. J. in “Distillation-1969”;Institution of Chemical EngC
neers Symposlum Series No. 32; Institution of Chemical Engineers: Lon-
don, 1969; p 4:18.
Underwood, A. J. V. Trans. Inst. Chem. Eng. 1932, 70, 112.
Zuiderweg, F. J. ”RecommendedText Mixtures for Dlstiilation Columns”; In-
stitution of Chemlcal Englneers: London, 1969.
Received for review November 9, 1981
Accepted May 10, 1982
Presented at the AIChE Spring National Meeting, Symposium
No. 44, ‘The Effects of Mass Transfer and Hydraulics on Dis-
tillation Tray Performance”,Houston, April 1981.

A Magnetic Control Valve for Flowing Solids: Exploratory Studies

Wang Yang,’ E. Jaraiz M.,2 Octave Levensplel,’ and T. J. Fltzgerald’

Chemical Engineering Department, Oregon State Unlvers&, Corvallis, Oregon 9733 1

This paper reports on preliminary experiments with a new type of valve for shutting off or for controlling the flow
of solids In vertical plpes. It can also be used as a distributor plate plus downcomer for fluidized beds. However,
the stream of solids must be magnetic or must contain some magnetic particles. The grate arrangement was
studied in detail. This device has no moving parts or mechanical action and does not require much power to operate
(-30 W for a 6-in. pipe). The results give promise for the development of new types of gas-solid contactors
with close to plug flow of solids and for multistage fluidized beds which completely avoid and bypass downcomer
problems.

Introduction
Suppose an electrical conductor such as a copper rod
passes through a crowd of magnetic particles. When an
electric current flows through the conductor then from the
laws of electromagnetism the particles will become
magnetized, will line up, and will also be attracted to the
conductor. This is shown in Figure 1. From this principle
comes the idea for a device for arresting or controlling the
flow of solids in pipes.
Suppose we insert a set of copper tubes across the flow
path of a stream of raining magnetic solids in a vertical
pipe (see Figure 2a). When an electric current is passed
through the copper tubes and is high enough, the falling
particles will be attracted to the conductors and freeze in
place, eventually blocking the flow channel (see Figure 2b).
After this the solids will pile up above the blocked zone
(see Figure 2c). Thus we have the makings of a shutoff
valve for the flow of solids. And if the current is switched
on and off at controlled intervals, we have a flow controller
for solids, all with no moving parta and no mechanical
action. Fitzgerald and Levenspiel (1982) have coined the
term magnetic valve for solids (MVS) for this device.
If air is passed upward through the frozen solids at a
high enough velocity the solids resting on the frozen layer
will fluidize (see Figure 2d); thus we have the makings of
a distributor plate and of a solids flow controller for a
fluidized bed. This is called the magnetic distributor-
downcomer (MDD).
This paper reporta on preliminary studies with the MVS,
the different geometries that can be used, the current
needed to freeze the particles in place and block the flow
channel, called the holding current, and the energy re-
quirement of the device.
Theory
Let us see how the spacing of a set of parallel copper
conductors, as shown in Figure 2, influences the holding
current of the MVS. For this, consider a single conductor
X, with flowing current I , surrounded by its blanket of
frozen magnetic particles. Focus attention on the outer-
most particle Y in the lateral direction, the one which is
most weakly held (see Figure 3).
This particle is affected by four kinds of forces, namely
the interaction F1and F2 with its magnetic neighbors,
attraction to the conductor F,, gravity Fg,and the frictional
resistance to sliding Ff.
Forces F1and F2 are equal to each other in magnitude
but are opposed in direction: hence there is no tendency
to move up or down. The frictional force Ff is directly
proportional to the force pressing the particle in toward
the conductor F, and related to it by the coefficient of
friction. Finally, this frictional resistance just overcomes
the force of gravity Fgsince this particle is still being held.
In mathematical terms the force between particle and
conductor is deduced from Jackson (1962) as
where H is the magnetic field intensity. Note that the
attractive force is also dependent on the gradient of the
field intensity dHf dr. For a straight line conductor the
field strength in its vicinity is
H = I/2ar (2)
where I is the current intensity. Hence
-dH/dr = I / 2 a r 2 (3)
Combining eq 1, 2, and 3 then gives

(4)
‘On leave from The Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China. The friction force is proportional to F, or
On leave from University of Salamanca, Spain.
3TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach, CA 90278. Ff= k’F, (5)

0196-4305/82/1121-0717$01.25/0 0 1982 American Chemical Society