A hydrocyclone showing the paths of fluid flow.

Hydrocyclones are a type of cyclonic separators that separate product phases mainly on basis of differences in gravity with aqueous solutions as the primary feed fluid.

As opposed to dry or dust cyclones, which separate solids from gasses, hydrocyclones separate solids or different phase fluids from the bulk fluid. A hydrocyclone comprises a cylindrical shaped feed part with tangential feed; an overflow part with vortex finder; a conical part with an apex. A cyclone has no moving parts.

Working principle

Product is fed into the hydrocyclone tangentially under a certain pressure. This creates a centrifugal movement, pushing the heavier phase outward and downward alongside the wall of the conical part. The decreasing diameter in the conical part increases the speed and so enhances the separation. Finally, the concentrated solids are discharged through the apex. The vortex finder in the overflow part creates a fast rotating upward spiral movement of the fluid in the centre of the conically shaped housing. The fluid is discharged through the overflow outlet.

Cyclone parameters

The following parameters are decisive for good cyclone operation:

Areas of application

A series of hydrocylones used for recovering starches in potato cutting food processing facilities.

The main areas of application for hydrocyclones are:

SiccaDania starch refining unit

References

  1. ^ Endres, E.; Dueck, J.; Neesse, Th. (2012-05-01). "Hydrocyclone classification of particles in the micron range". Minerals Engineering. Physical Separation. 31: 42–45. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2011.10.013. ISSN 0892-6875.
  2. ^ Ullmann, Grégori; Gonçalves, Suélen Mara; Kyriakidis, Yanne Novais; de Souza Barrozo, Marcos Antonio; Vieira, Luiz Gustavo Martins (2021-08-15). "Optimization study of thickener hydrocyclones". Minerals Engineering. 170: 107066. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107066. ISSN 0892-6875.
  3. ^ Toprak, Nurettin Alper; Altun, Okay (2021-11-01). "Considering hydrocyclone operation for tailings dewatering purpose and its effects on product specifications of paste backfill operations". Minerals Engineering. 173: 107176. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107176. ISSN 0892-6875.
  4. ^ Liu, Yao; Zhang, Yibo; Yan, Lihua; Yuan, Peng; Ji, Li; Chu, Kaiwei; Li, Zhaoyang; Kuang, Shibo (2023-07-01). "Mini-hydrocyclone performance enhancement in removing small-size microplastics using flocculants". Journal of Water Process Engineering. 53: 103755. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.103755. ISSN 2214-7144.
  5. ^ Yuan, Fangyang; Li, Xiaoyin; Yu, Wei; Du, Jiyun; Wang, Dongxiang; Yang, Xinjun; Zhou, Chunhao; Wang, Jia; Yuan, Huixin (2022-10-01). "A high-efficiency mini-hydrocyclone for microplastic separation from water via air flotation". Journal of Water Process Engineering. 49: 103084. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103084. ISSN 2214-7144.
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