Experimental study of a hydrocyclone under cyclic flow conditions for fine particle separation

The difficulty in separating fine particles is described in this paper. The basic separating principle of hydrocyclones and the cyclic experimental research facilities are also introduced. Based on a solid-liquid hydrocyclone used for separating fine particles, the effect of the cyclic flow conditions on hydrocyclone's performance is studied. Effects of the cyclic period ratio, cyclic flowrate amplitude ratio, Reynolds number, gas liquid ratio, and the cyclical signal type on the hydrocyclone's fine particle separation performance, with emphasis on the relative overflow purifying rate, are all studied in detail. The results show that the separation efficiency of the hydrocyclone operating under cyclic flow conditions can be higher than that in steady conditions when the cyclic period ratio is about 0.68 and the cyclic flowrate amplitude ratio is around 2%. The rectangular wave seems to be the best cyclic signal for enhancing the hydrocyclone's separation efficiency. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.