Steady-State Pressure Diffusion in a Centrifuge


Figure 18.5-3 from Bird, Stewart, and Lightfoot


Problem Description:

A binary liquid solution is mounted in a cylindrical cell in a very high-speed centrifuge, as shown above. The length of the cell L may be considered short with respect to the radius of rotation Ro, and the solution density may be considered a function of composition only. The goal is to determine the distribution of the two components at steady-state in terms of their partial molal volumes, position in the cell, and the pressure gradient (expressed as a function of the angular velocity, Omega). It will be assumed that the partial molal volumes and activity coefficients are constant over the range of compositions existing in the cell.