Gravitational separation

Gravity separation is an industrial method of separating two components from the suspension or any other heterogeneous mixture when the separation of the components with gravity is practical enough. All of these methods are common in the sense that all use gravity as the dominant force. Often other methods are used to make separation quicker and more efficient, such as flocculation, coagulation and suction.

Clarification / thickening

Clarification is a name for the method of separating fluid from solid particles. Often during clarification, the solid particles sink faster to the bottom of the container, while the clarification of liquids is obtained from the surface which is free of solid particles. The thickening is the same, except for the inverse explanation. Solids that deposit on the bottom and the liquid are obtained are rejected from the surface.

The difference in these methods can be demonstrated with the methods used in the treatment of wastewater: in the clarification phase, sludge sinks to the bottom of the container and clear water flows down to the furrows clear and goes its way. The sludge obtained is then pumped into the thickeners, where the sludge becomes thicker and the digestion is then obtained, when it is pumped. Theory of Clarification and Thickness

The duration that solid particles take to establish themselves at the bottom can be illustrated by Stokes' law:

v = (ρ '- ρ) g x ² / (18 μ)

When ...

v = sinking / floating rate (cm / s) ρ '= density of the solid particles (g / cm ²) ρ = density of the liquid (g / cm ²) g = acceleration of the gravitational force of the earth (9.81 m / s ²) x = diameter of the solid particles (cm) μ = liquid viscosity (g / cm)

wiki