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Mechanical separation techniques

Various techniques based on differences in:



1. densities,
2. sizes,
3. surface properties,
4. fluidities,
5. electrostatic charging,
6. magnetic properties.
Mechanical separation techniques based
on density differences
Settling

Feed : Liquid + solid or another immiscible liquid

Separating agent: Gravity

Product: Liquid + solid or another immiscible liquid

Principle of separation : density difference


Settling
Centrifuge

Feed : Liquid + solid or another immiscible liquid

Separating agent: Centrifugal force

Product: Liquid + solid or another immiscible liquid

Principle of separation : density difference


Centrifuge,
liquid liquid
separation
1. Feed
2. Separated solids
3. Clear liquid
Centrifuge,
liquid solid
separation
(clarification)
Cyclone separation

Feed : Gas + solid or liquid

Separating agent: Flow (inertia)

Product: Gas + solid or liquid

Principle of separation : density difference



Cyclone separators
Air cleaning
Size classification
Mechanical separation techniques based
on size differences
Filtration

Feed : Liquid + solid

Separating agent: Pressure reduction (energy) + filter
medium

Product: Liquid + solid

Principle of separation : size of solid larger than pore size
of filter medium


Cake filtration
CAKE FILTRATION
MEDIUM
CAKE
FLOW
ADDITIVE
RESISTANCES
CAKE MAY CLOG
THE MEDIUM, CAUSING
THE MEDIUM RESISTANCE
TO INCREASE
(PERMEABILITY WILL DROP)
L
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
A
=
m
m
c
c
k
L
k
L
P A
Q

Operation sequences in
cake filtration
1
2
3
4
Mesh demister

Feed : Gas + liquid

Separating agent: Pressure reduction (energy) + wire mesh

Products: Gas + liquid

Principle of separation : size of liquid droplets larger than
pore size of filter medium, wetting of filter medium


Mesh demister
Centrifugal filtration

Feed : Liquid + solid

Separating agent: Centrifugal force (energy) +filter
medium

Products: Liquid + solid

Principle of separation : size of solid larger than pore size
of filter medium



Mechanical separation technique based
on differences in surface properties
Flotation

Feed : Mixed, powdered suspended solids in liquid

Separating agent: Added surfactants, rising air bubbles

Products: Two solids, clear liquid

Principle of separation : tendency of surfactants/rising air
bubbles to adsorb preferentially on one of the solid
species

Wastewater treatment using flotation and settling
Mechanical separation technique based
on differences in fluidities
Expression

Feed : Liquid + solid

Separating agent: Mechanical force

Products: Liquid + solid

Principle of separation : tendency of liquid to flow under
applied pressure gradient

Application of expressing
using screw presses
Mechanical separation technique based
on differences in electrical charging
Electrostatic precipitation

Feed : Gas + fine solids

Separating agent: Electric field

Products: Gas + fine solids

Principle of separation : charge on fine solid particles

Electrostatic precipitation
Mechanical separation technique based
on differences in magnetic properties.

Magnetic separation

Feed : Mixed powdered solids

Separating agent: Magnetic field

Products: Two solids

Principle of separation : Attraction of material in
magnetic field


Magnetic separation

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