Sub-micron particle dewatering using hydrocyclones

Hydrocyclones are used for dewatering of solid-liquid suspensions in many industries. Generally, however, large diameter cyclones are used and their application is restricted to large (>25 μm) particles. Small diameter (10 mm) hydrocyclones have the potential to be applied to fine particle (<10 μm) suspensions and, in particular, to collect the sub-micron fraction. This is due to the very small cutsizes that are achieved in these cyclones. In order to apply these small hydrocyclones industrially, knowledge of the range of their classification performance is required. It is found that these cyclones exhibit a fish-hook partition curve, and a high bypass fraction. The very small cutsize (<5 μm) and the relatively large bypass makes the effective collection of sub-micron particles possible. While in most hydrocyclone applications it is found that the bypass fraction equals the water recovery to the underflow, in 10 mm hydrocyclones the bypass fraction is considerably larger than the water recovery. This results in a high particle recovery to the underflow, as well as low water recovery, resulting in a high concentration ratio. Results will be presented to show the separation performance of different hydrocyclone outlet configurations and pressure drops. A general model will be presented that describes the fish-hook and that gives an explanation for its origin. It will be shown that 10 mm hydrocyclones yield a new operating regime for their application to sub-micron solid-liquid separation, as a result of high solids recoveries and low water recoveries.