Settling of fine particles

This study pertaining to the settling of fine particles is developed using various models and formulas. The model considers two layers, i.e, the suspension zone dominated by perikinetic flocculation and the settling zone governed by gravitational force. In the suspension zone, floc formation of fine particles is simulated by the maximum chain model in which floc parameters and fractal dimension are compared with existing data. In addition, fractal dimension is compared with that of the hierarchical model. The main assumption of the model is that any floc having sixteen particles outweighs Brownian force, and thus the floc starts falling down into the settling zone. The flocs moving from the suspension zone are considered as nonspherical particles in the settling zone. The study uses a dimensionless settling velocity, omega*, for estimation of the sedimentation of flocs. Settling causes aggregation of the depositing flocs. The form of these aggregates is analyzed by the fractal relationship P ~ L delta.