Hydrocyclone flow characteristics and measurements

Abstract

The issue of water scarcity in many countries across the globe has become one of the most pressing challenges due to the limited availability of renewable water resources. After rainfall, the runoff water picks up the topsoil and sweeps them downstream towards a river, downstream dam, and groundwater storage. The deposition of sediment may reduce the storage capacity of dams, lowering the ability to utilize the groundwater that is now considered as unusable wastewater and causing for the silted up canals to become inoperable. A hydrocyclone is an effective separation device wherein water is mixed with sands. It can be used to classify or filter specific solid and liquid components in a feed stream. This study investigates the flow field characteristic within the hydrocyclone. The Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) has been deployed to measure the mean velocities in the hydrocyclone. Traditionally, a flat surface box or jacket is used to encase the hydrocyclone, filled with water or other materials, to minimize the refraction effects of laser beams, which are caused by the curved solid wall of the hydrocyclone and the refractive index of the test medium. In this study, a new method is applied that enables us to use the LDA directly in the hydrocyclone wall without recourse to such a flat surface box or jacket.