Effects of composite structures on internal flow field and particle classification performance of hydrocyclone

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hydrocyclones are commonly used solid – liquid separation apparatuses extensively adopted in various sorting industries owing to their unique advantages. However, the intrinsic constraints of their structures result in comparatively low-classification precision. Therefore, this study proposes a series of composite-structured hydrocyclones to augment their classification accuracy. Employing computational fluid dynamics techniques, this study provides a numerical analysis of hydrocyclones with varying structures, thus resulting in a series of valuable findings. Initially, the introduction of the composite structures effectively strengthened the centrifugal force in a manner directly proportional to the number of inlets. Internal turbulence provides effective turbulent scouring of the particles, simultaneously offering enhanced flow-field stability. Finally, the cutting ability and classification precision of the composite structures were substantially enhanced compared with those of traditional hydrocyclones. This was most evident in the structures that utilized four inlets, a parabolic cone section, and a thick-walled overflow pipe structure which resulted in superior product quality.