Hydrodynamics of a lamella electrosettler

Abstract

AbstractUsing the principles of conservation of mass and momenturn for each phase, a theory is developed for describing quantitatively the sedimentation of colloidal particles in vessels having electrodes that are inclined to the vertical.As a limiting case, a kinematic settling formula was derived that describes the motion of settling fronts of colloidal alumina particles suspended in tetralin as a function of angle of inclination and strength of applied electric field in terms of electrophoretic mobilities. A hydrodynamic computer model shows the flow patterns and settling behavior of such lamella settlers with and without an applied electric field. The predicted motions of the settling fronts and the thicknesses of the clear boundary layers above the upper wall of the inclined vessels globally agreed with the experimental observations.