Elutriation Particle Separator

Abstract

An elutriation particle separator is described which provides an inexpensive, efficient, and accurate method of obtaining from an original mixed sample sizable fractions of particles with diameters within preselected size ranges. Preliminary results for three size ranges between 10 and 100 μ are presented, together with proposed modifications (including a connected series of separators) for more efficient operation.

Continuous particle fractionation based on gravitational sedimentation in split-flow thin cells

“…Because of the nonuniformity, the cutoff diameter varies widely from the center to the edges of such columns. Attempts have been made to make flow profiles in elutriation columns more uniform by inserting baffles (9,10), but problems (including turbulence) abound. The only problem in SPLITT systems remotely comparable with the nonuniform flow problem in elutriation is the existence of edge effects.…”

“…where Ap is the difference in the densities of the particle and the fluid in which it is suspended and G is the strength of the field measured as acceleration. The substitution of eq 12 and 11 into eq 10 gives…”

Size Reduction

“…In one of a few articles on classifiers, Richards (52) discusses the efficiency of classifiers and the parameters necessary to characterize classifier efficiency and suggests that earlier representations of efficiency are inadequate. Scholz et al (61) describe an elutriation particle separator.…”