# Applications of polydisperse sedimentation models

Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105117
Applications of polydisperse sedimentation models
Stefan Berres
a
,Raimund B
¨
urger
a,∗
,Elmer M.Tory
b
a
Institut f¨ur Angewandte Analysis und Numerische Simulation,Universit¨at Stuttgart,Pfaffen-waldring 57,D-70569 Stuttgart,Germany
b
Mount Allison University,Sackville NB E4L 1E8,Canada
Abstract
This paper reviews some recent advances in mathematical models for the sedimentation of polydisperse suspensions.Several early models
relate the settling velocity to the solids concentration for a monodisperse suspension.Batchelors theory for dilute suspensions predicts the
settling velocity in the presence of other spheres that differ in size or density.However,this theory is based on the questionable assumption
that identical spheres have identical velocities,and leads to signicantly differing results for spheres that differ only slightly in size or densi ty.
Since Batchelors analysis cannot be extended to concentrated suspensions,one needs to revert to semi-empirical equations and computational
results.A rational model developed from the basic balance equations of continuum mechanics is the MasliyahLockettBassoon (MLB)
model.A useful tool for evaluating polydisperse hindered settling models in general is a stability analysis.Basically,a model should reect
that,for polydisperse suspensions of equal-density spheres,instabilities such as blobs or ngers during separation are never observed.These
structures do not formif the model equations are hyperbolic.The MLBmodel provably has this property,in contrast to certain extrapolations of
the Batchelor model.The sedimentation process of a suspension can be simulated by either solving the conservation equations numerically by
using a sophisticated scheme for conservation laws,or by using a particle-based method.Numerical examples illustrating both methodologies
are presented,with an emphasis on uidization problems.
©2005 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.
Keywords:Polydisperse suspension;MLB model;Batchelor model;Fluidization
1.Introduction
Despite the attention paid to sedimentation of monodis-
perse suspensions,polydisperse suspensions are far more
common.Some spheres are so nearly uniform that they
are essentially identical [13].However,many experiments
with monodisperse suspensions involve spheres that have
an approximately normal distribution with a considerable
spread in diameters [4,5].Similarly,each species in a bidis-
perse or tridisperse suspension often has a distribution of
diameters .
The relationship between settling velocity and solids con-
centration in monodisperse suspensions has been the subject
of many theoretical and empirical studies.Noting that the

Corresponding author.Present address:Departmento de Ingenier
´
a
Matem
´
atica,Universidad de Concepci
´
on,Casilla 160-C,Concepci
´
on,Chile.
Tel.:+49 711 6857647;fax:+49 711 6855599.
E-mail addresses:berres@mathematik.uni-stuttgart.de (S.Berres),
buerger@mathematik.uni-stuttgart.de (R.B
¨
urger),sherpa@nbnet.nb.ca
(E.M.Tory).
presence of particles affects both the density and viscosity
of the suspension (see,for example,),Robinson  sug-
gested,as early as 1926,a modication of Stokes law in
which the density and viscosity of the suspension replace
those of the uid.For very dilute suspensions,Kermack et al.
 and Batchelor  derived equations of the form
v(φ) = u

(1 −nφ),(1)
where v is the velocity of a sedimenting sphere,
u

= −
ρgd
2
18µ
f
(2)
is the Stokes velocity (where ρ is the soliduid density
difference,g the acceleration of gravity,d the diameter of the
sphere and µ
f
is the dynamic viscosity of the uid),and φ is
the volumetric solids concentration.There are many empir-
ical or semi-empirical equations such as those of Steinour
,Richardson and Zaki ,and Barnea and Mizrahi
.Of these,the best known and most widely used is the
1385-8947/\$  see front matter ©2005 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cej.2005.02.006
106 S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117
RichardsonZaki equation
u(φ) = u

(1 −φ)
n
.(3)
Eq.(3) is often used for slightly polydisperse suspensions.
Then,the value of u

is determined by extrapolation and
compared to the value calculated for some representative di-
ameter [4,14].The value of n depends on the Reynolds num-
ber and,to a lesser extent,on the spherecylinder diameter
ratio.Most experimental values range from 4.6 to 5.5 for
creeping ow.Scott  suggests 4.7 as the most appropri-
ate value.The reasons for the considerable variation are not
entirely understood,so n is appropriately chosen as the value
that gives the best t.
2.Sedimention of dilute suspensions
Kermack et al. in 1929 appear to have been the rst to
use the condition that the net ux in batch sedimentation is
zero.In modern terminology:
q = (1 −φ)v
f

1
v
1
+· · · +φ
K
v
K
= 0,(4)
where q is the volumeaverage velocity of the suspension,
v
f
the velocity of the uid,φ
k
and v
k
the volume frac-
tion and the velocity of solids species k,k =1,...,K,and
φ = φ
1
+· · · +φ
K
is the total solids volume fraction.Con-
dition (4) is obvious for a contained suspension and serves
as the denition of batch sedimentation.Since increasing the
size of a cluster increases its velocity,Eq.(4) must be im-
posed on an unbounded suspension to obtain a nite velocity.
Batchelor  also used q =0 in his derivation of the mean
particle velocity in a monodisperse suspension.Unlike many
others,who assumed a lattice or some other ordered congu-
ration,he assumed that the suspension was disordered.This
assumption has been conrmed by many direct observations
[1618].Batchelors major contribution was his recognition
of the importance of the deviatoric stress tensor:
d
ij
= σ
ij

1
3
δ
ij
σ
kk
,(5)
which is dened in both the uid and solid parts of the dis-
persion and has the Newtonian form2µ
f
e
ij
in the uid,where
e
ij
is the rate of strain tensor.In Eq.(5),δ
ij
is the Kronecker
delta.Batchelor noted that d
ij
(x) is a stationary randomfunc-
tion of position in a statistically homogeneous suspension,
and so has constant mean.After an extensive analysis using
these assumptions and the probability distribution of the sep-
aration of two spheres,he obtained Eq.(1).He noted that
assuming an ordered structure led to a completely different
dependence on φ,namely φ
1/3
.He also recognized that the
value of n depends on the assumed distribution of sphere
centers.
Asimilar analysis of polydisperse suspensions [19,20] led
to
v
i
= u
∞i
(1 +S
i1
φ
1
+· · · +S
iK
φ
K
),i = 1,...,K,(6)
where u
∞i
is the Stokes velocity of the ith species,φ
j
the
concentration of the jth species,and the coefcients S
ij
are
the so-called Batchelor coefcients.While Batchelor and
Wen  calculated results for many different combina-
tions of size and density,the values for identical and nearly
identical spheres are of special interest because they high-
light the importance of their assumptions.They obtained
the values S
ii
=−6.55 for λ=1 and γ =1,S
ii
=−5.6 for
λ≈1 and γ =1 and S
ii
=−2.6 for λ=1 and γ ≈1,where
λ:=d
j
/d
i
,γ:=(ρ
j
−ρ
f
)/(ρ
i
−ρ
f
),d
i
and ρ
i
are the size and
the density of species i,respectively,and ρ
f
is the density
of the uid.These strange results arise from their assump-
tion that identical spheres have identical velocities while
spheres that differ slightly in either size or density have
slightly different velocities.Tory and Kamel  pointed
out that identical spheres do not have identical velocities
.Indeed,the effects of very small differences in size
and/or density are completely dwarfed by the huge inu-
ence of local conguration [1,16,18,21].This throws into
question Batchelors markedly different results for almost
identical situations.Indeed,Tory and Kamel  maintain
that hydrodynamic diffusion makes the cases ( λ=1,γ =1),
(λ≈1,γ =1),(λ=1,γ ≈1),and (λ≈1,γ ≈1) essentially
the same.
In fact,all of these cases at large Peclet numbers must
be compared with the RichardsonZaki equation for small
values of φ.Batchelors equation (with S
ii
=−6.5 for λ≈1,
γ ≈1) appears to work well at small Peclet numbers in the
absence of interparticle forces .In this case,Brownian
motion ensures that the randomdistribution of sphere centers
remains uniform.Hydrodynamic diffusion is very important
at large Peclet numbers,but is not taken into account in the
BatchelorWen analysis.Since this diffusion depends on
some regions of the suspension being denser than others ,
the steady-state distribution is not obvious.A further dif-
cultyis that Eq.(6) applies onlytoverydilutesuspensions,but
this is the range in which cluster settling occurs [1,2224].
Hence,calculated and measured velocities may not agree ,
especially when the diameter of the container is large com-
pared to the particle diameter [23,25].Typically,the interface
velocity is less than the mean velocity of the spheres in the
interior [1,26],which may be greater than the Stokes velocity
[24,26].
3.Sedimentation at higher concentrations
Eq.(4) and the condition on d
ij
(x) apply at all concentra-
tions,but the type of analysis used by Batchelor applies only
to dilute suspensions.Geigenm
¨
uller and Mazur  studied
the sedimentation of spherical particles of common diame-
ter d in an incompressible uid of viscosity µ
f
in a closed
container.Starting from the pressure tensor in the uid they
showed that the friction force that the uid exerts on a sphere
in a suspension equals the buoyancy-corrected gravitational
force on it.For a polydisperse suspension,this is
S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117 107

F
k
(r) dr =
π
6
d
3
k

k
−ρ
f
)g.(7)
Note that they use the density of the uid,not the suspension.
This distinction is important in view of the controversy sur-
rounding the use of the suspension density in sedimentation
and uidization .Of course,F
k
(r) depends on Φ=(φ
1
,
φ
2
,...,φ
K
)
T
,the vector of solids concentrations of the K
species.In principle,the derivation by Geigenm
¨
uller and
Mazur yields velocities for concentrated suspensions,but the
solution rapidly becomes intractable for non-dilute suspen-
sions.Thus,empirical equations or computational results are
required at higher concentrations.
Davis and Gecol  postulated that Batchelors results
could be extended to higher concentrations.They introduced
the equation
v
i
= u
∞i
(1 −φ)
−S
ii

1 +
K

j=1
(S
ij
−S
ii

j

,
i = 1,...,K.(8)
This simplies to Eq.(3) for monodisperse suspensions (with
n =−S
ii
).For very small values of φ,terms of second order
can be neglected,and Eq.(8) reduces to Eq.(6).Richardson
and Shabi  stated that the settling velocities in a polydis-
perse suspension could be represented as
v
k
= u
∞k
(1 −φ)
n
,k = 1,...,K.(9)
However,this equation does not adequately account for
differences in the return ow of uid caused by the
downward movement of different species.The appropri-
ate generalization of the RichardsonZaki equation is the
MasliyahLockettBassoon (MLB) equation [3133]:
v
k
= µ(1 −φ)
n−2
×

δ
k

k
−ρ(Φ)) −
K

j=1
δ
j
φ
j

j
−ρ(Φ))

,
k = 1,...,K,(10)
where
ρ(Φ):=ρ
f
(1 −φ) +ρ
1
φ
1
,+· · · +ρ
K
φ
K
,(11)
δ
k
:=
d
2
k
d
2
1
,µ:=−
gd
2
1
18µ
f
=
u
∞1
ρ
1
−ρ
f
.(12)
Here,u
∞1
is the Stokes velocity of the largest species.Note
that u
∞1
<0 when ρ
1
−ρ
f
>0.As in the RichardsonZaki
equation,the value of n can be chosen to t the experimental
data .
Contrarytothe statement ina recent review ,Masliyah
did not assume that the slip velocity (velocity of particle
relative to the liquid) is governed by the...and the difference
betweentheparticleandsuspensiondensities.Of course,Eq.
(10) shows that ρ
k
<ρ(Φ) and ρ
j
>ρ(Φ),j
=k,imply that the
kth species will indeed move upwards.However,this result
is not an assumption,but a consequence.
The fundamental assumption for the rigorous derivation
[33,36] of the MLB [31,32] and the related PatwardhanTien
model  is that thesoliduidinteractionforcebetweenthe
ithspecies andthe uidis givenbya concentration-dependent
factor multiplying the slip velocity,or soliduid relative ve-
locity v
i
−v
f
.(This approach is in agreement with the prin-
ciple of objectivity,which states that constitutive equations
should be stated in terms of objective quantities,and it is well
known that the difference between two velocities is objective,
while a single velocity is not .) Inserting these assump-
tions into the reduced momentum balances for each solids
species and the uid and choosing a RichardsonZaki 
dependence,viz.
V(Φ) =

(1 −φ)
n−2
if 0 ≤ φ ≤ φ
max
,
0 otherwise,
(13)
we unequivocally obtain Eq.(10).Nevertheless,Ha and Liu
 state that the main assumption of models based on slip
velocities is that the particle volume fractions are uniform
in any given region.This is incorrect,of course.Moreover,
it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of
models.A model is simply a means of predicting settling
velocities fromsolids concentrations,i.e.,v(Φ).It is beyond
the scope of modeling to assume that the concentrations are
uniform in any given region;the concentrations are deter-
mined by the evolution of the suspension.In some cases,the
concentrations remain constant in a certain region;in other
cases,they do not.
Finally,we mention that it is necessary to explicitly build
in tothe mathematical model that the solutionshouldassume
physically relevant values only.This is most conveniently
done by setting the hindered settling factor to zero wherever
necessary,as is done in Eq.(13).
When ρ
1
= ρ
2
= · · · = ρ
K
,Eq.(10) reduces to
v
k
= v
k
(Φ) = u
∞1
(1 −φ)
n−1

k
−(δ
1
φ
1
+· · · +δ
K
φ
K
)),
k = 1,...,K (14)
as the velocity of the kth species .Eq.(14) clearly reduces
to Eq.(3) when only a single species is present.Thus,Eqs.
(3),(14) and (10) represent a consistent,unied approach to
sedimentation.
Patwardhan and Tien  proposed a model in which the
effective solids concentration is different for each species.
This could be more accurate if steric hindrance causes some
small particles to be carried downward with the larger ones
rather than moving freely in the liquid.However,as noted
below,it makes the analysis of stability more difcult.
4.Stability of suspensions
Analyses of settling suspensions are usually one-
dimensional,so it is important to identify suspensions in
108 S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117
which a three-dimensional analysis is required.Thanks
largely to the work of Weiland and his collaborators [4143],
it became apparent that suspensions of particles of greatly
differing densities settle in an anomalous manner.In partic-
ular,instability phenomena such as blobs and ngering are
evident.In the most extreme cases,bidisperse suspensions of
heavy and buoyant particles segregate into upward and down-
ward streams,resulting in a much faster separation than that
predicted froma one-dimensional analysis.
Batchelor et al. formulated a stability criterion for
bidisperse suspensions.Biesheuvel et al. used this crite-
rion to test the predictions of the MLBand PatwardhanTien
models.Using the MLB and DavisGecol models,B
¨
urger et
al. showed that some ux-density vectors
f(Φ) = (f
1
(Φ),f
2
(Φ),...,f
K
(Φ))
T
cause the rst-order systemof conservation laws
∂φ
i
∂t
+
∂f
i
(Φ)
∂x
= 0,i = 1,...,K (15)
to be non-hyperbolic,or to be of mixed hyperbolicelliptic
type in the bidisperse case.The criterion for ellipticity is
equivalent to the stability criterion.They showed that loss of
hyberbolicity,indicated by the occurrence of complex eigen-
values of the Jacobian of Eq.(15)
J
f
(Φ):=

∂f
i
(Φ)
∂φ
k

i,k=1,...,K
,(16)
can be viewed as an instability criterion for arbitrary poly-
disperse systems.For tridisperse suspensions,this criterion
can be evaluated by a convenient calculation of a discrimi-
nant.B
¨
urger et al. proved that the MLBequation predicts
stability for all bidisperse suspensions in which the spheres
have the same density,and conjectured that all polydisperse
suspensions of this kind would be stable.This conjecture was
provedbyBerres et al..The generic assumptiontoensure
hyperbolicity and hence stability is
V(φ) > 0,V

(φ) < 0 for 0 < φ < φ
max
,(17)
where φ
max
is the maximum total solids concentration fea-
sible in the polydisperse system.Thus,the form shown in
Eq.(14) is not the only one that ensures stability.However,
Eq.(17) is satised by V(φ) =(1 −φ)
n−2
,n >2,and,as noted
above,this formis consistent withthe RichardsonZaki equa-
tion.The important point is that the proof at present is limited
to functions of the form V(φ) only.Specically,it is not clear
to us at the moment whether it may be extended to the hin-
dered settling factors of the PatwardhanTien model ,
which depend on Φrather than φ,and differ for each particle
species.At present,this model appears to be too complicated
for generalizations of the stability analysis in [33,36],so only
numerical calculations are possible.
In contrast to the MLB equation,the DavisGecol
equation predicts regions of instability for some bidisperse
systems in which both species have the same density .
As there is no creditable experimental evidence for such
instability,the DavisGecol equation is inferior to the MLB
equation in this respect.It seems to us that these qualitative
predictions are extremely important.For example,if some
degree of instability is present in a bidisperse system in
which ρ
1

2
>ρ(Φ),species 1 may streamthrough species
2 as both move downward.Then,we should not expect
agreement with results from a one-dimensional analysis.
Thus,simple comparisons of calculated and experimental
results are an inadequate criterion for evaluating models
when particle densities differ substantially.Comparisons of
experimental and theoretical results for an equal-density case
are always appropriate.However,such comparisons should
be based on the entire settling curves and,if possible,the rise
of the packed bed.In this regard,we note that recent work by
Bargie et al. shows close agreement between Eq.(14)
and the experimental results of Shannon et al.[4,46].See
Section 8 for the risks involved in using a cited concentration
dependence as the only basis for evaluation of models .
5.The sedimentation process
Sedimentation is the evolution of Φ(z,t),0 <z ≤H,t ≥0,
from Φ
0
to Φ
max
(z),where Φ
max
is the value of Φ when
φ=φ
max
.This evolution is governed by the solids ux vector
f =(f
1
,f
1
,...,f
K
)
T
,where f
k

k
v
k
.The two essentials for
predicting this evolution are the model equation and a method
of implementingthe changes producedbythe ux.The global
behavior of sedimenting monodisperse suspensions can be
deduced from the ux plot [4649],but this approach is not
available for polydisperse suspensions.The settling process
is still governed by the solids ux,but the process is more
complicated.In particular,the evolution depends not only on
the total ux f =f
1
+f
2
+· · · +f
K
,but also on the components
f
k
.
In one of the earliest treatments of a polydisperse suspen-
sion,Smith  derived the increases in the concentrations
of slower-settling species in the upper regions.For simplicity,
consider the sedimentation of a bidisperse suspension.The
uppermost region contains only the slower settling species
designated as species 2.Suppose that the solids concentra-
tions of both species remain constant in the region above the
packed bed.The faster settling species (designated by 1) is
absent from the top level (designated by +).Thus,the ve-
locity of species 2 there is v
2

+
2
).Below the mixed-small
interface,the velocities are v
2

0
) and v
1

0
).A material
balance  yields
φ
+
2
[v
2

+
2
) −v
1

0
)] = φ
0
2
[v
2

0
) −v
1

0
)].(18)
Species 2 settles more rapidly in the upper region than in the
original suspension.Since downward velocities are negative,
v
2

+
2
) < v
2

0
).FromEq.(18),φ
+
2
> φ
0
2
.This Smith ef-
fect can be seen in many simulations [34,36,40,51,52].A
similar derivation can be applied to any discrete polydisperse
S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117 109
suspension.Bargie et al. derived the same result from
an analysis of particle paths.
Successful prediction of suspension evolution requires
that the scheme proceed automatically from Φ
0
to Φ
max
.
There are two main methods of implementing the theoretical
evolution of the suspension.One is to use a sophisticated
numerical scheme that tracks discontinuities automatically
[36,5355].We briey discuss these schemes,following
the introduction of .These schemes,which will pro-
duce accurate approximations of discontinuous solutions
to Eq.(15) without explicitly using jump conditions or
shock-tracking techniques,are called shock-capturing.
The last three decades have seen tremendous progress in
the development of shock-capturing schemes for systems
of conservation laws;see for example [56,57].Roughly
speaking,shock-capturing schemes may be classied into
two categories:central and upwind.The main disadvantage
of upwind schemes is the difculty of solving the Riemann
problem exactly or approximately,especially for compli-
cated systems of conservation laws.In fact,the (exact or
approximate) solution of the Riemann problem for (15)
combined with the ux vector dened by (10) has not yet
been determined.For this reason,central schemes have
so far been preferred.In the 1990s,this class of schemes
received (in part renewed) interest following Nessyahu and
Tadmors  second-order sequel of the LaxFriedrichs
scheme.A general introduction to central schemes is given
in .However,the KurganovTadmor scheme  is
employed for the numerical examples in this paper.This
modication of NessyahuTadmor scheme has a smaller nu-
merical viscosity and is better suited for nearly steady-state
calculations.
The other method to implement the theoretical evolution
of the suspensionis touse a particle-basedsimulation [34,51].
Inthis scheme,the velocityof eachparticle is governedbythe
solids concentrationina thinregion(of height h) immediately
belowthat particle.The thickness,h,must be large enough to
measure concentration accurately,but small enough to em-
phasize the concentration near the test particle.If the number
of particles is very large,this region can be quite thin.To
handle the lowest particles,we set φ=φ
max
in an articial
region (of thickness h) below the bottom .The particles
in this region are uniformly distributed over h.
This specicationof concentrationhas several advantages.
It corresponds to the usual idea of the dependence of the
interface velocity and ensures that the particles at the top of
a uniformly mixed suspension settle with the same velocity
as those in the bulk of the suspension.It also incorporates
the fact that a particle approaching a at plate or a xed
bed slows down [5861].Finally,it recognizes that a dense
region above a dilute one settles rapidly into or through the
latter [1,18].
This scheme works as follows:The particles are initially
distributed uniformly over the total height of the column.In
the rst time-step,all particles (of a given species) above h
have the same velocity,but those below settle more slowly
because they are affected by particles in the artical sub-
layer.The lowest particle is in the region where the effec-
tive concentration is the greatest,so it will settle the slowest
of any particles of its species.The next lowest particle of
that species will settle slightly faster,and so on.Each step
increases the concentration in (0,h).If the time-step is suf-
ciently small,this soon produces a concentration gradient
ranging from φ
max
at the bottomto φ
0
.This is more realistic
than Kynchs assumption that these concentrations formim-
mediately .The simulation can also handle an initially
randomdistributionof particles.Additional details,including
algorithms for both versions,are given in .
The simulation is very realistic in that concentrations are
controlled directly by the solids ux.Where discontinuities
are predicted from Kynchs theory,the simulations produce
a very sharp continuous change.Concentration gradients ex-
pand in the usual way.Bargie et al. showsettling curves
for bidisperse suspensions and for a polydisperse approxi-
mation of a suspension with normal size distribution of di-
ameters.Simulations involving several million particles are
feasible.An example is shown in Section 8.
Though one can sometimes follow the evolution of Φ by
measuring the rise of the discontinuity and using (18) or its
generalization to calculate the concentrations in the upper
levels,this method is unsatisfactory for two reasons.First,
the method should automatically determine the positions of
discontinuities.Second,thepropagationof concentrationgra-
dients in the lower region may change the concentration at the
top of that region ,thereby invalidating the calculation of
the concentrations in the upper levels.The important feature
of the KurganovTadmor scheme  and the particle-based
simulation  is that they automatically followthe positions
of discontinuities and also propagate concentration gradients
where appropriate.
Asophisticatednumerical scheme has beenusedtopredict
the sedimentation of compressible polydisperse suspensions
.Results for equal-density species are reasonable for the
early stages of sedimentation,but some issues regarding the
nal stages have not yet been resolved.The case of compress-
ible particles of different densities appears to be difcult be-
cause they will,in general,have different compressibilities
.
6.Fluidization
Polydisperse sedimentation models can also be used to
describe processes in which a relatively compact bed of par-
ticles is uidized by an upwards bulk ow of uid [62,63].
Complete mixingandbedinversionof bidisperse suspensions
have long been of particular interest [37,6467].Berres et al.
 established compatibility conditions for bidisperse sys-
tems and later  extended the analysis to tridisperse and
higher discrete polydisperse systems.The basic result from
[62,63],for simplicity presented here for a bidisperse suspen-
siononly,states that a necessaryconditionfor the existence of
110 S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117
a uidized bed is that the following inequalities are satised
d
1
> d
2
,(19)
d
2
1

1
−ρ
f
) > d
2
2

2
−ρ
f
),(20)
ρ
1
< ρ
2
.(21)
Assume that the material parameters are chosen such that
(19)(21) are satised.Then a completely uidized bed made
of these species can exist if its volume fractions ( φ

1

2
)
satisfy 
φ

2
= −
ρ
1
−ρ
f
ρ
2
−ρ
f
φ

1
+

2
−ρ
f
)d
2
2
−(ρ
1
−ρ
f
)d
2
1
(d
2
2
−d
2
1
)(ρ
2
−ρ
f
)
.(22)
Obviously,the set of all states (φ

1

2
) that satisfy (22) forms
a straight line in a φ
1
versus φ
2
diagram.The corresponding
uidization velocity is given by
q

= −(1 −φ

)µV(φ

)(−(1 −φ

f

1
(1 −φ

1
) −ρ
2
φ

2
).(23)
According to our discussion of Section 4,the MLBmodel for
bidisperse particles having different densities will in general
give rise to a hyperbolic-elliptic system,that is,to instability
regions in a φ
1
versus φ
2
diagram.In particular,these insta-
bility regions will exist for a bidisperse suspension satisfying
(19)(21).Furthermore,consider that the governing equation
for uidization of ideal suspensions is
∂Φ
∂t
+

∂x
(qΦ+f(Φ)) = 0.(24)
Thus,the Jacobian relevant for the stability analysis is
qI +J
f
(Φ),where J
f
(Φ) is the Jacobian of the batch settling
equation dened in (16).Since adding a multiple of the iden-
tity matrix does not change the nature of eigenvalues,the
stability and instability regions for uidization are the same
as for batch settling.
One may raise the question whether the uidized-bed
steady states (φ

1

2
) may become unstable.Interestingly,
it can be proved (see ) that,within the MLB model,the
completely uidized states are always stable.In other words,
the line (22) avoids the ellipticity (instability) region.This
will be illustrated in the next section.
Additional criteria are required to determine the sequence
of mixtures in incompletely mixed beds (see ).
7.Numerical examples
In this section,we present three recent numerical exam-
ples illustrating the predictions of the MLB model for batch
centrifugation of a tridisperse suspension,uidization of a
bidisperse suspension,and gravity separation of a bidisperse
suspension.In all cases,the schemes utilized are variants of
the KurganovTadmor scheme .For simulations of batch
settling of polydisperse suspensions,we refer to some earlier
papers [34,36,40,51,52,68].
7.1.Batch centrifugation of a polydisperse suspension
For tube or basket centrifuges rotating at an angular ve-
locity ω,the MLB model and its extension to compressible
sediments  again yield a spatially one-dimensional model
(with the radius r as spatial coordinate) provided that ω is
large enough that the inuence of the gravitational compared
to the centrifugal body force can be neglected,and ω is at
the same time small enough that the effect of Coriolis forces
is not dominant .The analysis of a monodisperse,ideal
suspension due to Anestis  and Anestis and Schneider
 clearly shows that curved shocks appear when the so-
lution of the centrifugation model is plotted,for example,
by iso-concentration lines of the solids volume fraction in a
time-versus-radius diagram,and that the suspension located
between the suspension-sediment and suspension-clear liq-
uid interfaces does not remain at the initial concentration;
rather,its concentration decreases as a function of time.
We present here one recent example taken from 
to illustrate the predictions for the MLB model includ-
ing sediment compressibility.We consider a tridisperse
suspension with particles made of the same material

1

2

3
=1800 kg/m
3
) and sizes d
1
=1.19 ×10
−5
m,
d
2
=2
−1/2
d
1
and d
3
=d
1
/2 that are suspended in a uid with
density ρ
f
=1000 kg/m
3
and viscosity µ
f
=10
−3
Pa s.The
suspension is assumed to initially ll a rotating tube with
inner radius (suspension meniscus) 0.05 m and outer radius
0.15 m.The hindered settling factor is assumed to be given
by (13) with n =4.7 and a nominal maximumsolids concen-
tration φ
max
=0.68.(The solids concentration attained in the
system is actually lower.) Though it is beyond the scope of
this review to elucidate the model,we nally mention that
the effective solid stress function accounting for sediment
compressibility is
σ
e
=

0 for φ ≤ φ
c
,
σ
0


φ
φ
c

k
−1

for φ > φ
c
,
(25)
where the parameters take the values σ
0
=180 Pa,φ
c
=0.2
and k =6.The centrifuge is assumed to rotate at an angular
velocity ω=25.573 rad/s and assumed to be lled initially
with a suspension of concentration Φ
0
=(0.04,0.04,0.04).
Fig.1 shows the numerical simulation of the centrifugation
process obtained by the KurganovTadmor method .
7.2.Fluidization of a bidisperse suspension
Next,we present a newsimulation of the uidization of a
bidisperse suspension studied by Moritomi et al..The
relevant parameters are δ
2
=0.04412,ρ
1
−ρ
f
=500 kg/m
3
(hollow char particles) and ρ
2
−ρ
f
=1450 kg/m
3
(glass
beads).Fig.2 shows a plot of the instability (ellipticity) re-
gion for the MLBmodel for this system.Moreover,the points
B,C,D,E and F lie on the straight line given by (22),and
correspond to completely uidized beds with the uidization
S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117 111
Fig.1.Simulation of the centrifugation of a tridisperse suspension with compressible sediment  showing iso-concentration lines of (a) the largest,(b) the
second-largest and (c) the smallest particles,and (d) of the cumulative solids volume fraction.
velocities q
B
=1.77 ×10
−6
m/s,q
C
=9.64 ×10
−4
m/s,
q
D
=1.39 ×10
−3
m/s,q
E
=1.84 ×10
−3
m/s and
q
F
=3.56 ×10
−3
m/s,respectively.We use this infor-
mation to solve (24) numerically with the initial condition
φ
0
1
(x) = φ
0
2
(x) = 0.2 for 0 ≤x ≤L=1 m and the boundary
Fig.2.The instability region for the MLB model and a bidisperse suspen-
sion studied by Moritomi et al..The collinear points B,C,D,E and
F represent compositions of stationary uidized beds at various uidization
velocities q
B
to q
F
.
condition f|
x=0
=0,and setting:
q = q(t) =

0 for 0 ≤ t ≤ 1500 s,
q
C
for 1500 s < t ≤ 3000 s,
q
D
for 3000 s < t ≤ 4500 s,
q
E
for 4500 s < t ≤ 5500 s,
q
D
for t > 5500 s.
(26)
Note that for t ≤1500 s,we apply no uidization velocity
and thus batch settling occurs.Fig.3 shows the numerical
result for this stage by a sequence of Lagrangian paths,that
is,the trajectories of the particles separating the lowest 1%,
10%,20%,...,90%,99% from the remaining particles of
the species considered.Fig.4 shows Lagrangian paths for the
complete uidization process,while Figs.5 and 6 depict the
concentration distribution for species 1 and 2,respectively.
We observe that eachtime qis increased,bothspecies initially
move upwards before gradually attaining their steady-state
positions.
7.3.Gravity separation of polydisperse suspensions
In a series of papers,Nasr-El-Din et al.[7375] report
experimental results and present a limited mathematical
treatment for gravity separation of polydisperse systems
with particles differing in density.The basic equipment is
a vertical column equipped with a surface source through
which feed suspension is fed into the unit.The desired mode
112 S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117
Fig.3.Simulation of the settling of a bidisperse suspension with parameters
chosen according to Moritomi et al..The solid and dotted lines are
Lagrangian paths of species 1 and 2,respectively.
Fig.4.Fluidization of a bidisperse suspension with parameters chosen ac-
cording to Moritomi et al. and a stepwise increased uidization velocity
q(t) given by (26).
Fig.5.Fluidization of a bidisperse suspension with parameters chosen ac-
cording to Moritomi et al.:concentration of species 1.
Fig.6.Fluidization of a bidisperse suspension with parameters chosen ac-
cording to Moritomi et al.:concentration of species 2.
of operation is that the upwards-directed ow in the column
carries the lighter and the downwards-directed owthe heav-
ier particles.Such an idealized clarier-thickener is drawn in
Fig.7,which is supposed to have a constant cross-sectional
area S.This unit is supposed to treat a polydisperse suspen-
sion,and is operated in the following way,where we assume
that x is downwards increasing.At depth x =0,feed suspen-
sion is fed into the equipment at a volume rate Q
F
(t) ≥0.The
feed suspension contains solids of species 1 to Nat the corre-
sponding volume fractions φ
F
1
(t) to φ
F
N
(t).At x =0,the feed
owdivides into an upwards- and a downwards-directed bulk
ow.We assume that the underow volume rate Q
R
(t) ≥0
is also prescribed,and that Q
R
(t) ≤Q
F
(t).Consequently,the
signed volume rate of the upwards-directed bulk ow is
Q
L
(t) = Q
R
(t) −Q
F
(t) ≤ 0.(27)
An overow opening is located at depth x =−1.Summariz-
ing,we prescribe the volume rates Q
F
(t) and Q
R
(t) and the
feed concentrations φ
F
1
(t) to φ
F
N
(t) as independent control
variables.From these we calculate the dependent control
variable Q
L
(t) by (27).
Fig.7.An idealized,continuously operated clarier-thickener unit with the
ow variables for operation with a polydisperse suspension.
S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117 113
For simplicity,we assume that all control variables are
constant with respect to t,and we introduce q
c
:=Q
c
/S,
c ∈{F,L,R}.Disregarding for a moment the presence of a
solids sourcebut appropriatelytakingintoaccount thesebulk-
ow velocities,we can write the ux function for species i
as
g
i
(Φ,x) =

(q
R
−q
F

i
for x ≤ −1,
(q
R
−q
F

i
+f
M
i
(Φ) for −1 < x ≤ 0,
q
R
φ
i
+f
M
i
(Φ) for 0 < x ≤ 1,
q
R
φ
i
for x > 1.
(28)
Including the feed mechanism now leads to the system of
conservation laws with source term
∂φ
i
∂t
+

∂x
g(Φ,x) = q
F
φ
F
i
δ(x),i = 1,...,K,(29)
where δ(·) denotes the Dirac direct mass.Including the singu-
lar source terminto the ux function and using the Heaviside
function H(·) leads to the equation:
∂φ
i
∂t
+

∂x
(g
i
(Φ,x) −q
F
φ
F
i
H(x)) = 0,i = 1,...,K.
(30)
Adding the constant −(q
R
−q
F

F
i
to the ux term,we can
nally state the initial-value problemof interest as
∂φ
i
∂t
+

∂x
g
i
(Φ,x) = 0,t > 0,−∞< x < ∞ (31)
φ
i
(x,0) = φ
0
i
(x),−∞< x < ∞,(32)
g(Φ,x) =

(q
R
−q
F
)(φ
i
−φ
F
i
) for x ≤ −1,
(q
R
−q
F
)(φ
i
−φ
F
i
)+f
M
i
(Φ) for −1 < x ≤ 0,
q
R

i
−φ
F
i
) +f
M
i
(Φ) for 0 < x ≤ 1,
q
R

i
−φ
F
i
) for x > 1.
(33)
Note that the ux depends discontinuously on x.The deci-
sive problem is,of course,the appropriate description and
discretization of the singular feed source term,and the dis-
continuous transition between upwards- and downwards-
directed ows.Nasr-El-Din et al.[7375] assume that a
feed point source is associated with a source zone of nite
height within the clarier-thickener.The obvious purpose of
this zone is to act as a buffer between the upwards- and
downwards-directed bulk ows,so that these ows occur in
regions that are spatially separated.In fact,it is assumed in
 (similar statements occur in [73,75]) that the solids and
the carrier uid are allowed to exit through the overowor the
underow boundaries,but they are not allowed to enter the
source zone except through the feed stream.However,these
assumptions are not put in mathematical terms in [7375].
Moreover,a model in which the clarication and thicken-
ing zones are not connected is clearly unable to explain the
really interesting cases,which occur for example if solids ac-
cumulate in the thickening zone,forma rising sediment layer,
and eventually break through the feed level ( x =0).(Papers
[7375] are concerned with polydisperse suspensions,but the
shortcomings of the source zone concept are independent
of the aspect of polydispersivity.)
We present here one numerical example from  and
consider a bidisperse suspension of polysterene particles
(d
1
=3.9 ×10
−4
m,ρ
1
=1050 kg/m
3
) and glass beads
(d
2
=1.37 ×10
−4
m,ρ
2
=2850 kg/m
3
) suspended in a
salt solution (ρ
f
=1120 kg/m
3

f
=1.41 ×10
−3
Pa s).
For monodisperse suspensions of each particle species,
the hindered settling factor (13) was found to be suit-
able with the exponents n =n
1
=5.705 and n =n
2
=
5.826,respectively.The remaining parameters are δ
2
=
(d
2
/d
1
)
2
=0.1234,ρ
1
−ρ
f
=−70 kg/m
3

2
−ρ
f
=
1730 kg/m
3
and µ=5.879 ×10
−5
m
4
/(kg s).Thus,we
are dealing with a heavy-buoyant system.We here use (13)
with φ
max
=0.7 and n =(n
1
+n
2
)/2 =5.765.The MLB model
for this case predicts an appreciable instability (ellipticity)
region (see Fig.8).
The equipment used in  is a cylindrical clarier-
thickener of total height 40 cm.The feed source,lo-
cated in the middle,has a rectangular cross-sectional
area S =4.24 ×10
−4
m
2
.Nasr-El-Din et al. report
experiments with many different feed and discharge
uxes.We consider here just the case of Q
F
=4.4 cm
3
/s,
the split ratio 75%,i.e.,q
R
=7.783 ×10
−3
m/s and
q
L
=−2.594 ×10
−3
m/s.The feed concentrations are φ
F
1
=
0.065 and φ
F
2
= 0.067.
Fig.9 shows the numerical simulations of these cases pro-
duced by a variant of the KurganovTadmor scheme .
We observe that a stationary solution is assumed,and that the
heavy species 2 does not enter the clarication zone.No ellip-
ticity region appears in the numerical simulation ( Fig.9) and,
for that case,no instabilities were observed experimentally
.
Fig.8.The instabilityregionfor the MLBmodel anda bidisperse suspension
studied by Nasr-El-Din et al..
114 S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117
Fig.9.Simulation of the continuous separation of a bidisperse suspension of buoyant (species 1) and heavy (species 2) particles .Top left:iso-concentration
lines and areas of constant composition,top right and bottom:concentration proles at three selected times.
8.Discussion
We have already noted that Batchelor did not consider
hydrodynamic diffusion in his derivation of velocities in
polydisperse suspensions.Even if the BatchelorWen results
were modied to take this into account,there is no justica-
tion for extending them to higher concentrations.Batchelor
considered only two-particle interactions.This is appropriate
for very dilute suspensions,but not for suspensions in which
the spheres are close together.For moderately concentrated
suspensions,three- and four-particle interactions are impor-
tant [76,77].For very concentrated suspensions,lubrication
terms must be considered .Thus,any extension of Batch-
elors work to higher concentrations is strictly empirical.
It seems to us that models based on slip velocities have
an inherent advantage over those based on an extension
of Batchelors equations.At low Reynolds number,all
particleparticle interactions occur via the uid .As
indicated by Eq.(7),the gravitational force on a sphere
is balanced by the force exerted on it by the uid.Eq.(4)
shows that the upward ow of uid is substantial when φ is
large.Thus,it makes sense to use slip velocities to calculate
settling velocities.More importantly (as noted in Section 3),
the difference between two velocities is objective,while a
single velocity is not .The assumptions involved in the
derivation of the MLB equation are carefully set out in .
A recent review  compares results computed from
many settling models with data from a paper by Selim et
al.,which was based,in part,on the work of Smith 
and Mirza and Richardson .All of these papers predate
the advent of shock-capturing methods.Consequently,they
use (18) or its generalization to compute φ
i
.Data fromLock-
ett and Al-Habbooby  were not used by Selimet al.They
state that Smiths binary data totalled 85 points and Mirza
andRichardsons data consistedof 45data points,all of which
are usedhere.Lockett andAl-Habboobys sedimentationdata
concerned the initial sedimentation rates for binary suspen-
sions andcouldnot be usedwiththe present model whichuses
average settling rates (our emphasis).As noted in Section 5,
the propagation of concentration gradients can change the
concentration at the top of the region just above the packed
bed and subsequently change the concentrations in the up-
per levels .The reference to average rates suggests that
concentration changes were indeed occurring.Certainly,sus-
pensions with voidage values in much of the range shown in
Figs.313 of  are well known to produce concentration
gradients in monodisperse suspensions .Simulations of
bidisperse and polydisperse suspensions also produce gradi-
ents over a wide range of concentrations.For example,Fig.10
shows the results of a simulation  of the sedimentation of
the polydisperse suspension studied by Shannon et al.[4,46]
whose experimental values are also indicated.Spheres of 11
species (approximating a normal distribution with 2,048,000
spheres) were randomly distributed over the height of the col-
umn and their trajectories were calculated by the method of
Bargie et al. (which is summarized in Section 5).Note
S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117 115
Fig.10.Simulation of the sedimentation of a polydisperse suspension.Each
upper line represents the path of the top sphere of a species.The Smith
effect and the very small volume of the two smallest species cause the
uppermost lines to be very close together.The line from the origin is the
position of the top of the packed bed.
that these paths,which are initially straight,become strongly
curved as concentration gradients are propagated upwards
from the bottom.Thus,it is possible that the voidage values
shown in the gures in  are purely nominal and not those
that actually determine the settling velocities.
This emphasizes the importance of shock-capturing 
and simulation  methods that avoid these difculties.
Concerning the numerical results shown in Section 7,it
should be pointed out that the use of the KurganovTadmor
scheme (or of any other scheme) for a systemof conservation
laws is not supported by a rigorous convergence theory.In
particular,the question of a meaningful solution concept for
hyperbolic-elliptic systems,such as those appearing in Sec-
tions 7.2 and 7.3,is still open.The use of these schemes as
simulation tools is essentially based on experience.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge support by the Collaborative Research
Center (Sonderforschungsbereich) 404 at the University of
Stuttgart.RB acknowledges support by Fondecyt project
1050728 and fondap in Applied Mathematics.
References
 E.M.Tory,D.K.Pickard,A three-parameter Markov model for sed-
imentation,Can.J.Chem.Eng.55 (1977) 655665.
 M.A.Al-Naafa,M.S.Selim,Sedimentation of monodisperse and
bidisperse hard-sphere colloidal suspensions,AIChE J.38 (1992)
16181630.
 E.M.Tory,M.T.Kamel,Mean velocities in polydisperse suspensions,
Powder Technol.93 (1997) 199207.
 P.T.Shannon,E.Stroupe,E.M.Tory,Batch and continuous thick-
ening.Basic theory.Solids ux for rigid spheres,Ind.Eng.Chem.
Fund.2 (1963) 203211;
P.T.Shannon,E.Stroupe,E.M.Tory,Correction,Ind.Eng.Chem.
Fund.3 (1964) 184.
 R.H.Davis,M.A.Hassen,Spreading of the interface at the top of
a slightly polydisperse sedimenting suspension,J.Fluid Mech.196
(1988) 107134.
 R.H.Davis,K.H.Birdsell,Hindered settling of semidilute monodis-
perse and polydisperse suspensions,AIChE J.34 (1988) 123
129.
 J.Happel,H.Brenner,Low Reynolds Number Hydrodynamics,Ni-
jhoff,Dordrecht,The Netherlands,1983.
 C.S.Robinson,Some factors inuencing sedimentation,Ind.Eng.
Chem.18 (1926) 869871.
 W.O.Kermack,A.G.MKendrick,E.Ponder,The stability of sus-
pensions.III.The velocities of sedimentation and of cataphoresis of
suspensions in a viscous uid,Proc.Roy.Soc.Edinburgh 49 (1929)
170197.
 G.K.Batchelor,Sedimentation in a dilute dispersion of spheres,J.
Fluid Mech.52 (1972) 245268.
 H.H.Steinour,Rate of sedimentation.Non-occulated suspensions
of uniform spheres,Ind.Eng.Chem.36 (1944) 618624.
 J.F.Richardson,W.N.Zaki,Sedimentation and uidization I,Trans.
Inst.Chem.Eng.(London) 32 (1954) 3553.
 E.Barnea,J.Mizrahi,A generalized approach to the uid dynamics
of particulate systems.Part 1.General correlation for uidization
and sedimentation in solid multiparticle systems,Chem.Eng.J.5
(1973) 171189.
 K.J.Scott,W.G.B.Mandersloot,The mean particle size in hindered
settling of multisized particles,Powder Technol.24 (1979) 99101.
 K.J.Scott,Hindered settling of a suspension of spheres.Critical eval-
uation of equations relating settling rate to mean particle diameter
and suspension concentration,CSIR Report CENG 497,Chemical
Engineering Research Group,Council for Scientic and Industrial
Research,Pretoria,South Africa,1984.
 D.R.Oliver,The sedimentation of suspensions of closely sized spher-
ical particles,Chem.Eng.Sci.15 (1961) 230242.
 D.K.Pickard,E.M.Tory,A Markov model for sedimentation,J.
Math.Anal.Appl.60 (1977) 349369.
 J.M.Ham,G.M.Homsy,Hindered settling and hydrodynamic disper-
sion in quiescent sedimenting suspensions,Int.J.Multiphase Flow
14 (1988) 533546.
 G.K.Batchelor,Sedimentation in a dilute polydisperse system of
interacting spheres.Part 1.General theory,J.Fluid Mech.119 (1982)
379408.
 G.K.Batchelor,C.S.Wen,Sedimentation in a dilute polydisperse
system of interacting spheres.Part 2.Numerical results,J.Fluid
Mech.124 (1982) 495528.
 E.J.Hinch,Sedimentation of small particles,in:E.Guyon,J.P.
Nadal,Y.Pomeau (Eds.),Disorder and Mixing,Kluwer Academic
Publishers,Dordrecht,1988,p.153.
 B.H.Kaye,R.P.Boardman,Cluster formation in dilute suspensions,
in:Proceedings of the Symposium on Interactions between Fluids
and Particles Instn.Chem.Eng.,London,June 2022,1962,pp.
1721.
 B.Koglin,Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Sedimentation von
Teilchenkomplexen in Suspensionen,Chem.Eng.Technol.44 (1972)
515521.
 G.Bickert,W.Stahl,Sedimentation behaviour of mono- and polydis-
perse submicron particles in dilute and in concentrated suspensions,
in:Proceedings of the Seventh World Filtration Congress,vol.I,
Budapest,Hungary,May 2023,1996,pp.141145.
 E.M.Tory,M.T.Kamel,C.F.Chan Man Fong,Sedimentation is
container-size dependent,Powder Technol.73 (1992) 219238.
116 S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117
 B.Koglin,Zum Mechanismus der Sinkgeschwindigkeitserh
¨
ohung in
niedrig konzentrierten Suspensionen,in:Proceedings of the First
European Symposium on Particle Size Measurement,Nuremberg,
1975.Dechema Monographs,nos.15891615,vol.79,part B,Verlag
Chemie GmbH,Weinheim,Bergstraße 1976,pp.235250.
 U.Geigenm
¨
uller,P.Mazur,Sedimentation of homogeneous suspen-
sions in nite vessels,J.Stat.Phys.53 (1988) 137173.
 R.-H.Jean,L.-S.Fan,On the model equations of Gibilaro and
Foscolo with corrected buoyancy force,Powder Technol.72 (1982)
201205.
 R.H.Davis,H.Gecol,Hindered settling function with no empir-
ical parameters for polydisperse suspensions,AIChE J.40 (1994)
570575.
 J.F.Richardson,F.A.Shabi,The determination of concentration dis-
tribution in a sedimenting suspension using radioactive solids,Trans.
Inst Chem.Eng.38 (1960) 3342.
 J.H.Masliyah,Hindered settling in a multi-species particle system,
Chem.Eng.Sci.34 (1979) 11661168.
 M.J.Lockett,K.S.Bassoon,Sedimentation of binary particle mix-
tures,Powder Technol.24 (1979) 17.
 R.B
¨
urger,K.H.Karlsen,E.M.Tory,W.L.Wendland,Model equa-
tions and instability regions for the sedimentation of polydisperse
suspensions of spheres,Z.Angew.Math.Mech.82 (2002) 699722.
 M.Bargie,R.A.Ford,E.M.Tory,Simulation of sedimentation of
polydisperse suspensions.A particle-based approach,AIChE J.,in
press.
 A.Zeidan,S.Rohani,A.Bassi,P.Whiting,Review and compari-
son of solids settling velocity models,Rev.Chem.Eng.19 (2003)
473530.
 S.Berres,R.B
¨
urger,K.H.Karlsen,E.M.Tory,Strongly degenerate
parabolichyperbolic systems modeling polydisperse sedimentation
with compression,SIAM J.Appl.Math.64 (2003) 4180.
 V.S.Patwardhan,C.Tien,Sedimentation and liquid uidization of
solid particles of different sizes and densities,Chem.Eng.Sci.40
(1985) 10511060.
 D.A.Drew,S.Passman,Theory of Multicomponent Fluids,Springer-
Verlag,New York,1999.
 Z.Ha,S.Liu,Settling velocities of polydisperse concentrated sus-
pensions,Can.J.Chem.Eng.80 (2002) 783790.
 E.M.Tory,R.A.Ford,Simulation of sedimentation of bidisperse
suspensions,Int.J.Miner.Process.73 (2004) 119130.
 Y.P.Fessas,R.H.Weiland,Convective solids settling induced by a
buoyant phase,AIChE J.27 (1981) 588592.
 Y.P.Fessas,R.H.Weiland,The settling of suspensions promoted by
rigid buoyant particles,Int.J.Multiphase Flow 10 (1985) 485507.
 R.H.Weiland,Y.P.Fessas,B.V.Ramarao,On instabilities arising
during sedimentation of two-component mixture of solids,J.Fluid
Mech.142 (1984) 383389.
 G.K.Batchelor,R.W.Janse van Rensburg,Structure formation in
bidisperse sedimentation,J.Fluid Mech.119 (1986) 379407.
 P.M.Biesheuvel,H.Verweij,V.Breedveld,Evaluation of instability
criterion for bidisperse sedimentation,AIChE J.47 (2001) 4552.
 P.T.Shannon,R.D.DeHaas,E.P.Stroupe,E.M.Tory,Batch and
continuous thickening.Prediction of batch settling behavior with
results for rigid spheres,Ind.Eng.Chem.Fund.3 (1964) 250
260.
 G.J.Kynch,A theory of sedimentation,Trans.Faraday.Soc.48
(1952) 166176.
 M.C.Bustos,F.Concha,R.B
¨
urger,E.M.Tory,Sedimentation and
Thickening,Kluwer Academic Publishers,Dordrecht,1999.
 R.B
¨
urger,E.M.Tory,On upper rarefaction waves in batch settling,
Powder Technol.108 (2000) 7487.
 T.N.Smith,The sedimentation of particles having a dispersion of
sizes,Trans.Inst.Chem.Eng.44 (1966) T153T157.
 E.M.Tory,R.A.Ford,M.Bargie,Simulation of sedimentation of
monodisperse and polydisperse suspensions,in:M.A Efendiev,W.L.
Wendland (Eds.),Analysis and Simulation of Multield Problems,
Lecture Notes in Applied and Computational Mechanics,vol.12,
Springer-Verlag,Berlin,2003,pp.343348.
 R.B
¨
urger,K.-K.Fjelde,K.H
¨
oer,K.H.Karlsen,Central difference
solutions of the kinematic model of settling of polydisperse suspen-
sions and three-dimensional particle-scale simulations,J.Eng.Math.
41 (2001) 167187.
 A.Kurganov,E.Tadmor,New high resolution central schemes for
nonlinear conservation laws and convectiondiffusion equations,J.
Comp.Phys.160 (2000) 241282.
 H.Nessyahu,E.Tadmor,Non-oscillatory central differencing for
hyperbolic conservation laws,J.Comp.Phys.87 (1990) 408463.
 B.Xue,Y.Sun,Modeling of sedimentation of polydisperse spherical
beads with a broad size distribution,Chem.Eng.Sci.58 (2003)
15311543.
 E.Tadmor,Approximate solutions of nonlinear conservation laws,
in:B.Cockburn,C.Johnson,C.-W.Shu,E.Tadmor (Eds.),Ad-
vanced Numerical Approximation of Nonlinear Hyperbolic Equa-
tions (Cetraro,Italy,1997),Lecture Notes in Mathematics,vol.1697,
Springer-Verlag,Berlin,1998,pp.1149.
 R.J.Le Veque,Finite Volume Methods for Hyperbolic Problems,
Cambridge University Press,Cambridge,UK,2002.
 G.D.M.MacKay,S.G.Mason,Approach of a solid sphere to a rigid
plane interface,J.Colloid Sci.16 (1961) 632635.
 G.D.M.MacKay,M.Suzuki,S.G.Mason,Approach of a solid sphere
to a rigid plane interface.Part 2,J.Colloid Sci.18 (1963) 103
104.
 H.Brenner,The slow motion of a sphere through a viscous uid
towards a plane surface,Chem.Eng.Sci.16 (1961) 242251.
 S.Kim,S.J.Karrila,Microhydrodynamics:Principles and Selected
Applications,Butterworth-Heinemann,Boston,1991.
 S.Berres,R.B
¨
urger,E.M.Tory,Mathematical model and numerical
simulation of the liquid uidization of polydisperse solid particle
mixtures,Comput.Visual.Sci.6 (2004) 6774.
 S.Berres,R.B
¨
urger,E.M.Tory,On mathematical models and nu-
merical simulation of the uidization of polydisperse suspensions,
Appl.Math.Model.29 (2005) 159193.
 N.Epstein,B.P.Leclair,B.B.Pruden,Liquid uidization of bi-
nary particle mixtures.II.Bed inversion,Chem.Eng.Sci.40 (1985)
15171526.
 L.G.Gibilaro,R.Di Felice,S.P.Waldram,P.U.Foscolo,A predictive
model for the equilibrium composition and inversion of binary-solid
liquid uidized beds,Chem.Eng.Sci.41 (1986) 379387.
 H.Moritomi,T.Iwase,T.Chiba,A comprehensive interpretation of
solid layer inversion in liquid uidized beds,Chem.Eng.Sci.37
(1982) 17511757.
 H.Moritomi,T.Yamagishi,T.Chiba,Prediction of complete mixing
of liquiduidized binary solid particles,Chem.Eng.Sci.41 (1986)
297305.
 R.B
¨
urger,F.Concha,K.-K.Fjelde,K.H.Karlsen,Numerical simu-
lation of the settling of polydisperse suspensions of spheres,Powder
Technol.113 (2000) 3054.
 S.Berres,R.B
¨
urger,On gravity and centrifugal settling of poly-
disperse suspensions forming compressible sediments,Int.J.Solids
Struct.40 (2003) 49654987.
 G.Anestis,Eine eindimensionale Theorie der Sedimentation in Ab-
setzbeh
¨
altern ver
¨
anderlichen Querschnitts und in Zentrifugen,Doc-
toral Thesis,Technical University of Vienna,Austria,1981.
 G.Anestis,W.Schneider,Application of the theory of kinematic
waves to the centrifugation of suspensions,Ing.Arch.53 (1983)
399407.
 S.Berres,R.B
¨
urger,K.H.Karlsen,Central schemes and systems
of conservation laws with discontinuous coefcients modeling grav-
ity separation of polydisperse suspensions,J.Comp.Appl.Math.
164165 (2004) 5380.
 H.Nasr-El-Din,J.H.Masliyah,K.Nandakumar,Continuous grav-
ity separation of concentrated bidisperse suspensions in a vertical
column,Chem.Eng.Sci.45 (1990) 849857.
S.Berres et al./Chemical Engineering Journal 111 (2005) 105–117 117
 H.Nasr-El-Din,J.H.Masliyah,K.Nandakumar,Continuous separa-
tion of suspensions containing light and heavy particle species,Can.
J.Chem.Eng.77 (1999) 10031012.
 H.Nasr-El-Din,J.H.Masliyah,K.Nandakumar,D.H.-S.Law,Con-
tinuous gravity separation of a bidisperse suspension in a vertical
column,Chem.Eng.Sci.43 (1988) 32253234.
 P.Mazur,W.van Saarloos,Many-sphere hydrodynamic interactions
and mobilities in a suspension,Physica A 115 (1982) 2157.
 M.T.Kamel,E.M.Tory,Sedimentation of clusters of identical
spheres.I.Comparison of methods for computing velocities,Powder
Technol.59 (1989) 227248;
M.T.Kamel,E.M.Tory,Erratum,Powder Technol.94 (1997) 266.
 M.S.Selim,A.C.Kothari,R.M.Turian,Sedimentation of multi-
sized particles in concentrated suspensions,AIChE J.29 (1983)
10291038.
 T.N.Smith,The differential sedimentation of particles of two differ-
ent species,Trans.Inst.Chem.Eng.43 (1965) T69T73.
 S.Mirza,J.F.Richardson,Sedimentation of suspensions of par-
ticles of two or more sizes,Chem.Eng.Sci.34 (1979) 447
454.
 M.J.Lockett,H.M.Al-Habbooby,Differential settling by size of
two particle species in a liquid,Trans.Inst.Chem.Eng.51 (1973)
281292.
 M.Bargie,private communication,March 13,2003.
{"ft_lang_label":"__label__en","ft_lang_prob":0.7866712,"math_prob":0.91022885,"size":57267,"snap":"2021-21-2021-25","text_gpt3_token_len":16546,"char_repetition_ratio":0.1643295,"word_repetition_ratio":0.03295646,"special_character_ratio":0.25562716,"punctuation_ratio":0.1683742,"nsfw_num_words":0,"has_unicode_error":false,"math_prob_llama3":0.9671586,"pos_list":[0],"im_url_duplicate_count":[null],"WARC_HEADER":"{\"WARC-Type\":\"response\",\"WARC-Date\":\"2021-06-15T01:00:14Z\",\"WARC-Record-ID\":\"<urn:uuid:c678448b-9007-4064-a285-a687f1262850>\",\"Content-Length\":\"116702\",\"Content-Type\":\"application/http; msgtype=response\",\"WARC-Warcinfo-ID\":\"<urn:uuid:c450b123-1d71-4e77-8000-d1a6e61af44c>\",\"WARC-Concurrent-To\":\"<urn:uuid:1bef28f5-c8b2-44f7-bf42-fa81a7285600>\",\"WARC-IP-Address\":\"52.5.126.52\",\"WARC-Target-URI\":\"https://www.techylib.com/en/view/opossumooze/applications_of_polydisperse_sedimentation_models_2\",\"WARC-Payload-Digest\":\"sha1:NCV4O6UCGE5D33EHAXMDGBIONPF7UMKE\",\"WARC-Block-Digest\":\"sha1:MNYIFDDUJNCYICWVL44OLPJ3AALMRE2K\",\"WARC-Identified-Payload-Type\":\"application/xhtml+xml\",\"warc_filename\":\"/cc_download/warc_2021/CC-MAIN-2021-25/CC-MAIN-2021-25_segments_1623487614006.8_warc_CC-MAIN-20210614232115-20210615022115-00205.warc.gz\"}"}