Performance analysis and design of filtering hydrocyclones

Abstract

The filtering hydrocyclone is a solid-liquid separation device patented by the Chemical Engineering Department at the Federal University of Uberlândia, which consists of a hydrocyclone whose conical section was replaced by a conical filtering wall. The objective of this work is to compare the performances of the filtering hydrocyclones designed by Bradley and by Rietema. The experimental results obtained with the filtering hydrocyclones under the same operational conditions as those used with the conventional device allow the conclusion that performance of the Bradley and Rietema types is significantly influenced by the filtering medium. Rietema's filtering hydrocyclones had a lower volumetric feed flowrate than the conventional device and Bradley's filtering hydrocyclones showed increases in this same variable. In both designs, overall efficiency was influenced by the underflow-to-throughput ratio.