Topic 2 - 2.3 Part1 - Mechanical Operations

Topic 2.
Properties and Handling of Particulate Solids:
2.1. Characterization of Solid Particles

Importance of solid particles
Handling and processing of solid particles are more difficult than fluids (Liquids & Gases) – Why?
Why measure properties (characterization) of solid particles?
Which particle properties are important to measure?
2.1.1. Particle size (single)

Why is particle size important?
How do we define particle size?
The equivalent spherical diameter
2.2.2. Particle shape

Why is particle shape is important?
How do we define particle size?
Sphercity
2.2. Mixed particle sizes and analysis

Specific surface of mixture
Average particle size of mixture
Number of particles in mixture
Screen analysis
Size measurements with fine particles
2.3. Properties of masses of particles

Storage and conveying of solids
Bulk storage
Bin storage
Flow out of bins
Conveyors
1
Topic 2.
Properties and Handling of Particulate Solids
NITW Mechanical Operations Topic 2 2.1. Characterization of solid particles 2

Storage and conveying of solids

Bulk storage
Bin storage and Flow out of bins
NITW Mechanical Operations Topic 2.1 2.1. Characterization of solid particles 3

• consists of many particles or granules of different sizes, density, chemical

composition randomly grouped together form a bulk -- Masses of solid particles (Bulk
solids)
Ex. A powder
Chemical Process:
Raw material (vessel) Unit process (reactor) Unit operations
conveying Storage Product

• All these materials have to be handled, transported, conveyed, storage within the
process or outside the process
• So bulk solids have to be handled or stored in nearly all industries from pharma,
cement, coal, fertilizers, agri etc.,
• Handling of bulk solids involves - space and time
 You have container, involves filling and discharge
filling  filling, discharging involves flow of particles
 Bulk solids have to store, discharged at controllable

rate from storage vessel when introduced into vessel
or reactors
 There is a possibility of failure of a material to

discharging discharge from storage and blocking conveying lines
 If you not design properly (mean not understand the

property of bulk solids) Effect the production rate,
production quality, time to market.
• Knowledge of the flow properties of bulk solids is necessary to design bins, silos
and other handling equipment so that no flow problems
• Thus the characterization of bulk solids regarding their flow properties plays an
important role.
The topic is relation to storage and

discharge of bulk solids
Properties of masses of particles
Flow properties of masses of particles
• Masses of solid particles (Bulk solids), especially when the particles are dry and not
sticky, have many properties of the fluid.
Ex. When a fluid is placed in a container with an opening it flows through that opening.
The question is how fast does it pass through that particular opening.
However, when a bulk solid is placed into a container then allowed to flow. It may or
may not pass through the opening. They exert pressure on the sides and wall of
container.
• They exert pressure on the sides and walls of a container they flow through the
openings or down chute
• They differ from liquids and gases in several ways, however, because the particles
interlock under pressure and can not slide over another until the applied force
reaches an appreciable Magnitude
• When the force is large enough, failure occurs and one layer of particles slides over
another
Based on flow properties - Flow of masses of particles
POOR FLOW: Not acceptable FREE FLOWING – acceptable in industry

(not uniformity, flow batch wise
etc.)
 Pressure
 cohesiveness
• Motivation: Bulk solids wont flow or maybe they
 Shear stress / Friction
flow uncontrollably - - Chemical engineer duty  Density
 Volume / Physical interlocking
• The properties of bulk solids are function of  Angle of repose
size, shape and PSD - √
Pressure:
• In general, a pressure is applied in one direction
creates some pressure in other direction
• But it always smaller than applied pressure
• The pressure is not the same in all directions
• It is a minimum in the direction at right angles to the

applied pressure
• In homogeneous mass the ratio of normal pressure to

applied pressure
• depends on the shape, stickiness of how tightly the

material is packed
• The effective of increased pressure on flow ability

leads to larger no of contact between particles causes
more inter particle adhesion
Gravitational forces (generally) on solid particles give rise

to pressures (horizontal and vertical pressures)
Shear stress:
In bulk solids shear stress always

emerge due to the frictional
effects.
The magnitude of transferable

shear stress is dependent on the
friction between bulk solid and
plane surface.
Ex1. Bulk solid is located on horizontal plane and is

subjected only to gravity acting perpendicular the plane
in this no shear stress is acting between plane and bulk
solid.
Shear force = 0 Gravitational force=0
Ex2. If the plane becomes inclined to the horizontal by

Gravitational force = 5
sufficient large angle, the bulk solid will slide downwardness
is acting between plane and bulk solid.
If the force Transferred through shear stress is less than
than gravitational force (pulls downward) – the bulk solid
will flow downwards
Shear force = 2
Ex3. In contrast to this bulk solid will remain at rest at small

Gravitational force = 2
inclination. In both cases shear force acting between bulk
solid and plane.
If the force Transferred through shear stress is greater than

gravitational force (pulls downward) – the bulk solid will
remain at rest Shear force = 5
Smooth surface Rough surface
Ex. bulk solid will remain at rest Ex. bulk solid will remain at
May flow little rest
Shear force = 0 Shear force = 0

surface
If the force transferred
through the shear stress is
If the force transferred shear not less than the force that
stress is too small, the bulk pulls the bulk solid
solid will slip downward. downward, the bulk solid
will remain at rest.
Shear force = low
Shear force = high
• For free flow the wall of container (storage /transport vessel) should be smooth
• A rough surface will be able to transfer large shear stress than a smooth surface.
• If the surface were friction less ; very smooth surface - shear force = 0
Density:
• The density of mass may vary depending upon degree of packing
• But bulk density of mass:

minimum when the mass is loose
rise to maximum when the mass is packed by vibrating or tamping
• Dry bulk solid with large hard particles. Bulk density will increase very little – Free
flow
• But fine /or moist particles increase in bulk density in large amounts – Poor flow
Volume:
• Before mass tightly packed particles can flow it

must be increase in volume to permit
interlocking grains to move past one another
Physical interlocking:
• if spherical particles they only touch the surface.
But for irregular particles they form lumps -
• Change the shape or increase volume by some

methods
Angle of repose:
When granular solids are piled on a flat

surface, the sides of the pile are at a
definite angle with horizontal.
This angle is called angle of repose

Cohesive and non-cohesive
• Cohesiveness: Attraction between the particles increases due to cohesive ness

they form bulk and sticky nature so the flow properties decreased.
• When the attraction is high they from lump so flow Becomes tough
• Non cohesive materials such as grain, dry sand and plastic chips flow freely out of
a storage bin or silo .
Non cohesive materials:

K’ is often between 0.35 and 0.6
Angle of repose: 15 – 30
Cohesive materials:
K’=0
Angle of repose: >55 – Very cohesive
45-55 – cohesive

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Topic 2.

Properties and Handling of Particulate Solids:

2.1. Characterization of Solid Particles

2.1.1. Particle size (single)

2.2.2. Particle shape

2.2. Mixed particle sizes and analysis

2.3. Properties of masses of particles

2.3. Properties of masses of particles

NITW Mechanical Operations Topic 2 2.1. Characterization of solid particles 2

2.3. Properties of masses of particles

Storage and conveying of solids

NITW Mechanical Operations Topic 2.1 2.1. Characterization of solid particles 3

• consists of many particles or granules of different sizes, density, chemical

Raw material (vessel) Unit process (reactor) Unit operations

conveying Storage Product

 You have container, involves filling and discharge

filling  filling, discharging involves flow of particles

 Bulk solids have to store, discharged at controllable

 There is a possibility of failure of a material to

 If you not design properly (mean not understand the

The topic is relation to storage and

Flow properties of masses of particles

Based on flow properties - Flow of masses of particles

POOR FLOW: Not acceptable FREE FLOWING – acceptable in industry

• But it always smaller than applied pressure

• The pressure is not the same in all directions

• It is a minimum in the direction at right angles to the

• In homogeneous mass the ratio of normal pressure to

• depends on the shape, stickiness of how tightly the

• The effective of increased pressure on flow ability

Gravitational forces (generally) on solid particles give rise

In bulk solids shear stress always

The magnitude of transferable

Ex1. Bulk solid is located on horizontal plane and is

Ex2. If the plane becomes inclined to the horizontal by

Ex3. In contrast to this bulk solid will remain at rest at small

If the force Transferred through shear stress is greater than

Smooth surface Rough surface

Shear force = 0 Shear force = 0

• The density of mass may vary depending upon degree of packing

• But bulk density of mass:

• Before mass tightly packed particles can flow it

• Change the shape or increase volume by some

When granular solids are piled on a flat

This angle is called angle of repose

Cohesive and non-cohesive

• Cohesiveness: Attraction between the particles increases due to cohesive ness

Non cohesive materials:

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