CFD analysis of inlet chamber body profile effects on de-oiling hydrocyclone efficiency

In this study the effect of inlet chamber design on de-oiling hydrocyclone efficiency has been investigated numerically with the aim of minimizing the energy loss. To this aim, effects of four different inlet chamber designs (exponential, conical, quadratic polynomial body profile and standard design) on efficiency have been considered. Algebraic slip mixture model and Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) have been employed for prediction of multiphase flow behavior and simulation of turbulent flow through the cyclone respectively. The simulation results for efficiency of standard design demonstrate a proper agreement with reported experimental data. The results show that the separation efficiency can be improved approximately 8% using exponential body shape. The recirculation eddies that exists in the upper section prevents inward radial flow, consequently the efficiency reduces; the simulations illustrate that inlet chamber shape affects on the size of these eddies. More recirculation in hydrocyclone inlet chamber with quadratic polynomial body profile causes minimum separation efficiency. (C) 2010 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.