Experimental study of mini-hydrocyclones with different vortex finder depths using Particle Imaging Velocimetry

摘要

Characterization of flow field inside the hydrocyclone is helpful in optimizing hydrocyclone structure design. In this work, flow patterns in a mini-hydrocyclone with various vortex finder depths were studied with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Axial velocity and radial velocity distributions of the central plane orthogonal to the inlet of mini-hydrocyclone were acquired, streamline diagrams were constructed from the measured vectors, and calculated from the experimental data. An analysis of the experimental data shows that the structural parameters of hydrocyclones have a critical impact on the flow field structure, and the experiment operation conditions only have an influence on strength of the flow fields. Vortex finder depth has a significant influence on the volume of the main separation zone and separation performance of mini-hydrocyclone. The optimal depth of the vortex finder was found to be a ratio of vortex finder depth to mini-hydrocyclone cylindrical section diameter L-0/D of 1.0.