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Hydrocyclones
UK
Stock
Hydrocyclones are simple devices with no moving parts. They can be used in many applications as an alternative to more expensive slurry preparation systems.
Working Principles
A vortex is created in the cylindrical body by the tangential entry of fluid under pressure through the feed inlet.
The vortex speed increases as it travels down the conical shape of the cyclone and heavier solids migrate to the sides by the action of centripetal force.
When the solids reach to the sides they are slowed by drag forces against the wall and slide down to be ejected through the spigot to the underflow.
Air is drawn in through the spigot and mixes with the liquid and finer particles making them lighter and causing them to rise up the centre in a secondary vortex to be ejected to the overflow via the vortex finder.
The recovery curve is an indicator of the probability that a particle of that size is classified by the cyclone to report to the underflow.
Cyclone recovery performance is influenced by many factors. Key factors influencing cut size include:
● Cyclone Size
● Particle Density
● Pulp Density
● Working Pressure
Applications
Typical applications include:
Dewatering / Thickening
Removal of water to thicken a slurry for further processing.
Classification / Separation
Separation of particles in a slurry by density and size with larger / denser particles reporting to the underflow.
De-slime
Ultra-fine particles, sometimes referred to as slime, can compromise many mineral extraction processes. Small diameter cyclones can remove these slimes without loss of valuable ore.
Solids removal / Fines Recovery
Hydrocyclones can be sized to target the removal of oversize particles while recovering fine material for specialist systems such as our own MGS.
Types
Standard Cyclones
With cone angles between 10 & 20° these cyclones are compact and suitable for a wide range of applications. We stock 50mm and 120mm cyclones and can source other sizes if needed.
Concentration Cyclones
Concentration cyclones feature a long body and narrow angle cone angle. When used for dewatering, and pulp thickening, these cyclones provide less overlap on particle classification and so reduce losses of valuable material to the overflow.
● Dewater & slurry thickening.
● Slime removal.
Enrichment Cyclones
Often referred to as Stub Cyclones because of the wide cone angle and short body, enrichment cyclones can be used to pretreat ores prior to mineral extraction. The design offers a very large cut size for the cyclone diameter and heavy particles are preferentially directed to the underflow. The resulting pulp has a high solids content and is rich in valuable minerals. Fine material is directed to the overflow for further processing.
● Removal of oversize solid material
● Slurry thickening and enrichment
