Flow predictions within hydrocyclones

Abstract

The aim of this article is to illustrate the type of internal flows that can develop within hydrocyclone separators at low and high Reynolds numbers based on the Navier-Stokes equation and the RANS-equation, respectively. The following three examples are used: a 5 mm hydrocyclone; a 76 mm Rietema hydrocyclone; and a 250 mm hydrocyclone with different cone angles. The simulations provide an estimate of the mean pressure and mean velocity fields of the continuous phase in the absence of an air core and a dispersed phase.