Influence of particle density distributions of their settling velocity for narrow size fractions

Particle settling velocity is the partition feature of feed directed to jigging process. Distribution of terminal particles settling velocity characterizes feed for jigging process. Consideration of complex geometrical properties of particles (size and shape) and physical ones (density) leads to calculation of distribution of terminal particles settling velocity. That means that this is complex partition feature containing three basic particle features (density, size and shape). The paper presents themethodology of determining particle settling velocity distribution in sample of spherical particles for turbulent motion for which settling velocity is defined by Newton-Rittinger formula. Because of the fact that both particle density and size are random variables of certain type of distribution, settling velocity as function of these two variables is random variable too. Applying probability theorems connected with random variables functions the equation for statistical density function of settling velocity was given and distributions of velocities for several combinations of particle size and density were calculated on the basis of industrial velocity. The paper presents simulative determination of spherical particles settling velocity distribution functions assuming that particles are spheres of diameter being equal to projective diameter of irregular particles. In this case, terminal settling velocity is influenced by distribution of densimetric characteristics.