Hydrocyclone investigatin and modeling at medium feed solids concentration of mixed minerals

摘要

Cut-size is the most important parameter in the design and operation of a hydrocyclone. The effect of feed pressure in reducing the cut-size of a hydrocyclone is less pronounced at medium feed solids concentrations with a mixed-mineral feed. The choice of vortex-finder diameter and apex diameter becomes more sensitive at medium feed solids concentrations. The effect of feed solids concentration in increasing the cut-size becomes less marked at higher concentrations. The predictions of the empirical model (equation 1) are in good agreement with the experimental data. When the results obtained with the model were compared with those predicted by theoretically derived models the latter were found to be more promising, the turbulent two-phase model (equation 3) giving closer agreement with the experimental data. Continuous improvement of such theoretically based models to fit a wide range of hydrocyclone working conditions is essential.