Particle Technology

Professor Richard Holdich

R.G.Holdich@Lboro.ac.uk

Watch this lecture at

http://www.vimeo.com/9936959.
Also visit;
http://www.midlandit.co.uk/particletechnology.htm
for further resources.
Format

1 Lecture per week,

1 Problem Class tutorials & self study
1 hour on: Moodle/Learn tutorials & self
study
Laboratories (oral, report & experimental)
Two hour exam (75% module mark)
Exam

Two hour exam

3 questions from 5
Question 1 obligatory PSD
Previous answers old papers on Learn
Tutorial problems (& book on:
www.particles.org.uk)
Lecture topics

Particles & Membranes & colloids

Characterisation Emulsions, surfaces &
Dilute particulate dispersions
systems Centrifugal separation
Hindered systems Two phase flow,
Fluid flow in porous rheology & powders
media/Fluidisation Gas cleaning
Filtration Comminution & mixing
Problem Classes

See:
http://learn.lboro.ac.uk/
www.particles.org.uk
References:
614.83, 620.43, 621.54, 660.283 & 660.2842
Coulson & Richardson Vol 2;
Fundamentals of Particle Tech free pdf book
Rhodes, Introduction to Particle Technology
Particles &
Characterisation

Introduction to Particle Technology

Equivalent spherical diameters
Shape factors
Specific surface area
Size ranges and grades
Normalised distributions
Particle size analysis
What is Particle Technology?

Study, characterisation, prediction of properties during the

processing of particle dispersions ranging down to sub-
microscopic material. It is the extension of mechanics (fluids
and solids) into particle containing systems. The term
'particles' includes liquid emulsions, drops, foams, oils, dusts,
bubbles, fogs, etc

N.B. The definition of a micron, and

human hair is 70 microns,
blood cells are 8 microns,
bacteria are bigger than 0.2 microns
- all are particles
Whats the problem?

Viscosity
Density
Molecular size
Heat capacity
Flow regime
Easy to define for a fluid
How do these change with particles?
Equivalent spherical
diameters

To equate some property of the irregular

shaped particle to a sphere with the same
property, e.g. same volume as particle:
Has the same
volume as a
sphere - hence:

V
3
xV
6
Note use of x for diameter.
Equivalent spherical
diameters

It is possible to measure volume of a

particle by displacement, or electrical
resistance of suspension, and equate to
that of sphere of same volume.
Some other equivalences include
projected area, surface area and mass

Ap AS xSA
2 2
xA Mass xV
3
4 6
Shape factors

Volume of a sphere:

V
3
xV
6
Hence volume shape factor is:

6
The volume shape factor for a cube is?
Specific surface

Specific surface area per unit volume -

usually abbreviated to specific surface is
the surface area over volume:
x 2
Sv
3
x
6
Hence Sv=6/x as is commonly used.
Use density to convert to SMASS
Size ranges and grades
Size ranges and grades
Size ranges and grades
Normalised distributions
Normalised distributions
Normalised distributions
Normalised distributions
Normalised distributions
Normalised distributions
Normalised distributions

n3(x) N3(x)

xmax xmax
0 0
Particle diameter Particle diameter
Normalised distributions
MALVERN
Clarcel/calcite suspension
100

%
50

0
1 10 100 1000
Particle diameter, m.
Normalised distributions

Size % Size % Median size 9.2 m

microns under in band microns under in band
188
162
100 0
0
17.7
15.3
79.8
74.1
4.4
5.7
Specific surface:
100
140
121
100
100
0
0
13.2
11.4
67.4
60.5
6.7
6.9
0.944x105 m-1
Sauter mean
104 100 0 9.8 53.4 7.1
89.9 100 0 8.5 46.1 7.3
77.5 7.3 38.8
diameter: 6.4 m
99.9 0.1 7.3
66.9 99.7 0.2 6.3 32 6.8
57.7 99.6 0.1 5.4 26 6
49.8 99.4 0.2 4.7 20.7 5.3
42.9 98.8 0.6 4.1 15.8 4.93
37.1 97.3 1.5 3.5 11.5 3.6
32 94.7 2.6 3 7.9 2.6
27.6 91.5 3.2 2.6 5.3 1.5
23.8 88 3.5 2.2 3.8 1.4
20.5 84. 3.8 1.9 2.4
Normalised distributions
 Particle size analysis

z All techniques
measure property and
relate it to the
equivalent spherical
diameter.
z Select your technique
to be the most
The Coulter Counter
appropriate for the
end use of the data.
The image above is provided by Beatop (OMEC) Instruments Limited. As found at Beatop (OMEC) Instruments Limited
http://www.beatop.com/Particle_Counter/principle_illustration.html
Particle size analysis

Malvern Sedimentation/Sedigraph
Particle size analysis

Cumulative mass undersize, %. 100

Median sizes:
80 laser diffraction 19.8
Coulter 13.5
60 sedimentation 18.5

40

20

0
1 10 100
Particle diameter, microns.

laser diffraction sedimentation Coulter

Summary

Equivalent spherical diameters

Shape factors
Specific surface area
Size ranges and grades
Normalised distributions
Particle size analysis
Particle Tech Labs

Think design not laboratory

Problem given by boss
Might use Perry, C&R 6, etc.
But lab exp to check model, equations
Model could be good, just your material
Report to boss model no good is NOT
GOOD ENOUGH, so what we still need it
Particle Tech Labs

So, design is it over or under?

Does dodgy model matter?
How to improve MODEL, not experiment
2nd week, you tell us what you want to do
Repeating experiments only checks on
reproducibility of experiment, nothing else
Data analysis assume data until known
Particle Tech Labs

References, use Harvard system and

minus 6 marks for a Bibliography rather
than a Reference section minus 4 for no
references at all. For example,
Bloggs, F., 2008, An anti-gravity machine,
Journal of Good Ideas, 123, pp 22-33.
Orals: use PICTURES, do NOT derive
equations. Do show flow diagram, etc.
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