Mechanical operations involve the physical manipulation of materials through processes like size reduction, classification, mixing, filtration, and conveying .
Size reduction is the process of reducing the size of solid particles to increase surface area, improve mixing, enhance reaction rates, and facilitate handling and processing.
Common size reduction equipment includes crushers (jaw crushers, gyratory crushers), grinders (ball mills, rod mills), and ultrafine grinders (hammer mills, fluid energy mills).
Filtration involves separating solids from liquids using a porous medium that allows the fluid to pass through while retaining the solid particles.
Filtration methods include gravity filtration, vacuum filtration, pressure filtration, and centrifugation. .
Sedimentation is the process of allowing solid particles in a suspension to settle out of the fluid by gravity, typically used in water and wastewater treatment. .
A cyclone separator is used to remove particulates from an air, gas, or liquid stream without the use of filters, by employing centrifugal forces.
Key considerations include the physical properties of the materials (viscosity, density), the desired mixing intensity, batch or continuous operation, and the specific mixing requirements (homogeneity, dispersion). .
Screening separates particles based on size using a screen or mesh, while classification separates particles based on their settling velocity in a fluid medium.
A rotary drum filter operates by rotating a drum immersed in a slurry, allowing the liquid to pass through the drum surface while the solids form a cake that is periodically removed .