Mechanism of hydrocyclone separation with water injection

In hydrocyclones, the particle separation efficiency is limited by the suspended fine particles, which are discharged with the coarse product in the underflow. It is well known that injecting water in the conical part of the cyclone reduces the fine particle fraction in the underflow. This paper presents a mathematical model that simulates the water injection in the conical component. The model accounts for the fluid flow and the particle motion. The stationary concentration distributions result from superpositioning the turbulent particle diffusion and particle settling. Particle interaction, due to hindered settling caused by increased density and viscosity of the suspension, and fine particle entrainment by settling coarse particles are included in the model. Water injection in the conical part of the hydrocyclone is performed to reduce fine particle discharge in the underflow. This added water transports the fine particles of the sediment to the center, where they are directed to the overflow. The model demonstrates the impact of the injection rate, injection velocity, and injection location on the shape of the partition curve. Under optimal conditions, the so-called fish hook of the curve is reduced without changing the cut size. The simulations are compared with experimental data of a 50-mm cyclone. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.