Ch.

E-203 PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY

Department of Chemical Engineering,

University of Engineering & Technology Lahore
 Tayler Standard Screen Series

 Square shape opening

 The area of the openings in any one screen in the series is exactly twice that of the
openings in the next smaller screen.
 The ratio of the actual mesh dimension of any screen to that of the next smaller screen
is = √2 = 1.41.
 Based on 200 mesh No. screen
 Usually 5-6 screens are arranged in a stack
 for closer sizing intermediate screens are available (with mesh dimension 1.189)
 Shaken mechanically for a definite time

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 Tayler Standard Screen Series

 Size of the upper screen must be larger by a factor √2 and that of lower screen must be
smaller by a factor √2

i–1 ------------- Di – 1 

i ------------- Di 

i+1 ------------- Di + 1 

Minimum particle diameter = Dpi (min) = Di

Maximum particle diameter = Dpi (max) = Di-1 = √2 Di

Particle Size Range = √2 Di – Di = 0.4142 Di

4 Mean particle size = Dpi, mean = (Di + Di-1) / 2 = (√2+1)Di / 2

 How is Screen / Sieve Analysis done?

Screen analysis is carried out using number of screens so that aperture size reduces for
lower sieve

 Screens are arranged serially in a stack

 The smallest mesh at the bottom and the largest at the top
 Materials are loaded at top and then shacked for a period of time
 Materials are collected from every screen and weighed.

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 Particle Sizing for topmost screen

1. If the particles are large enough with appreciable concentration (mass fraction) so
that their average size could easily be measured with the help of thread and meter
rod. Then few representative particles are chosen 5 to 6 prominent dimensions of
each particle is measured so that its average size is known.
2. If concentration (mass fraction) is appreciable and particles are small, then imaginary
sieve immediately above the screen under consideration in T.S.S.S is used and the
arithmetic mean of clear opening of two screens is used as representative size of
material present over topmost screen.
3. If concentration is negligible , the topmost screen may be neglecting for sizing

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 Particle Sizing for topmost screen

4. If concentration is large enough with relatively wide variation in sizes of particles,

then 2 to 3 imaginary screens are assumed and then material is distributed over
those screen (equal weight distribution, experience-based distribution, graphical
approach, computer simulation)

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 Particle Sizing for bottom most screen (Pan)

1. If concentration is negligible , the bottom most screen may be neglecting for sizing
2. If concentration is small, however particles are nearly of same size then arithmetic
mean of clear opening of the screen above pan and imaginary screen below it is taken.
3. If concentration is large enough with relatively wide variation in sizes of particles,
then 2 to 3 imaginary screens are assumed and then material is distributed over those
screen (equal weight distribution, experience-based distribution, graphical approach,
computer simulation).

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 Representation of results of Screen Analysis

 Differential Analysis

 Cumulative Analysis

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 Differential and Cumulative Analysis

Mesh Aperture size Average Dia. Mass Cumulative

no. of of screen of the particle Fraction Mass Fraction
Screen Dpi (mm) Dpi (Avg.) (mm) xi smaller than
Dpi

4 4.50 - 0 1
6 3.19 3.84 0.02 0.98
8 2.26 2.72 0.05 0.93
10 1.6 1.93 0.1 0.83
14 1.13 1.36 0.18 0.65
20 0.8 0.96 0.25 0.4
28 0.57 0.68 0.25 0.15
Pan - - 0.15 0
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 Factors affecting Screening

1. Orientation of particle
2. Presence of near mesh particles
3. Shape of particles
4. Size of Particles
5. Motion
6. Nature of particles
7. Humidity or moisture

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 1. Orientation of Particle

 Overall probability of passage of one particle

 No. of times particle strike
 Probability of passage during single strike
 Angle of approach
 Perpendicular - larger the chance

 Endwise – min. contact area –high probability of screening

 Sidewise – max. contact area – low probability of screening

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 2. Presence of near mesh particles

 Particles having size very close to the aperture size of the screen.
 They may pass through the screen in any particular configuration.
 They may cause clogging or blinding of the screen.

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 3. Shape of particles

 Regular shape (spherical) – screening is easy and efficient

 Irregular shape – screening is difficult (they may pass through the screen in one
particular direction or may retain on the screen in any other direction)

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 4. Size of particles

 Coarse particles – screening is difficult

 Fine particles – screening is easy

 Ultrafine particles – loss as dust

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 5. Motion

 The purpose of induced motion is to enhance the probability of particles to strike

on screen surface

 Jolting action
 Sifting action

 Too high – reduces efficiency – as particle bounce back

 It reduces the screen blindness
 High vibration at high feed rate is used

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 6. Nature of feed particles

 Soft / porous particles – cohesive in nature – size enlargement

 Hard / rigid – better screening – impact may cause screen failure

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 7. Humidity / moisture

 Greater the moisture – cohesiveness

 size enlargement
 reduction in available screen surface

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 Screen Blindness

 Bridging

 Cohesiveness

 Size enlargement – reduction in available screen surface

 Clogging

 Near mesh particles

 Irregular shape – reduction in flow area of screen

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 Comparison of
IDEAL & ACTUAL screen

 An ideal screen would sharply separate the feed mix in such a way that the smallest
particle in overflow would be just larger than the largest particle in underflow

 Ideal separation defines a cut diameter Dpc , the point of separation between oversize and
undersize fractions and is equal to aperture size of the screen.

 Actual screens don’t perform a perfect separation about the cut diameter

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 Mesh Aperture size Average Dia. Mass
no. of of screen of the particle Fraction
Screen Dpi (mm) Dpi (Avg.) (mm) xi

4 4.50 0
6 3.19 0.02
8 2.26 0.05
10 1.6 0.1
14 1.13 0.18
20 0.8 0.25
28 0.57 0.25
Pan - 0.15

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 States of Matter

Gas Solid
Liquid

o Particles can o Particles can move o Particles locked

move past one past/slide past one into the place
another o Retains the fixed
another
o Assumes the o Assumes the shape volume and
shape and volume of container which shape
of container o Not easily
it occupies
o Compressible o Not easily compressible
o Flows easily o Does not flow
compressible
o Flows easily easily

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 Properties of Particulate Masses / Solids

1. Resist distortion

The particles interlock and can not slide past one another that is why they resist
distortion when subjected to moderate force. When the force is large enough, failure
may occur, and one layer of particle slide over other.

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 Properties of Particulate Masses / Solids

2. Non-uniform pressure distribution

Pressure is not same in all directions. Pressure applied in one direction may create
some pressure in other, but it is always smaller than the applied pressure. It is min. in
the direction perpendicular to the applied pressure.

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 Properties of Particulate Masses / Solids

3. Shear stress in solids

Shear stress in solids is transmitted throughout the static mass of the particles unless
failure / distortion occurs.

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 Properties of Particulate Masses / Solids

4. Solids density
Bulk Density: The mass of the particles divided by the volume they occupy. Density of
mass vary depending upon the degree of packing of the grains. It is min. when the mass
is loose and rises to maximum when particles are packed under pressure.

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 Properties of Particulate Masses / Solids

5. Dilation required for flow

The tightly packed solid particles must expand or increase in volume to permit
interlocking grains to move past one another to start flow. Without dilation, flow is not
possible.

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 Types of particulate solids

Depending on flow properties, particulate solids are of two classes

 Cohesive

For example; wet clay

 Non-cohesive

For example; dry sand, sugar crystals, grains etc.