Elutriator

Elutriator

Elutriator

An Elutriator is vertical tube through which a fluid passes upwardly at a specific velocity while a solid mixture, whose separation is desired, is fed into the top of the column. The large particles, which settle at a velocity higher than that of the rising fluid, are collected at the bottom of the column, and the smaller particles are carried out of the top of the column with the fluid. Several columns of different diameters in series may be used to bring about a further separation

The set up consists of two vertical tubes of different diameter in which water is passed at a controlled velocity. A tank with pump is provided for re-cycled water supply and flow rate is measured by rota meter and controlled with the help of control valve. The tubes are arranged in a fashion of ascending cross-section area. The particles are introduced through a feed hopper provided at first tube, the smaller particles are carried over in the fluid stream, while the large particles settle against the upward stream. The overflow from the first tube introduced at the bottom of second tube is passed vertically upwards and the overflow from the second tube introduced at the, is passed to drain. The weighed sample originally placed in the first tube of smallest diameter is classified into fractions according to their settling velocities. The fractions are collected in successive tubes by a special arrangement and may be dried and weighed to make analysis.

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