Effect of solids concentration and operational variables on the performance of a geometrically optimized concentrator hydrocyclone employing a pseudoplastic fluid
Suélen Mara Gonçalves, Murilo Guimarães Morimoto, Marcos Antonio de Souza Barrozo, Luiz Gustavo Martins Vieira
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The employment of hydrocyclones in thickening operations is an attractive option when compared to centrifuges and filters due to their low operating, maintenance, and acquisition costs. However, the performance of hydrocyclone separation is impaired as the concentration of solids and the viscosity of the suspension increases. Using geometric optimization techniques, the Federal University of Uberlândia developed one concentrator hydrocyclone named HC. When working with diluted and Newtonian slurries, the HC could generate a stream 45 times more concentrated than the one fed into it. In this study, the HC performance was evaluated when operating pseudoplastic fluids containing up to 10% solids by volume. The combination of the underflow diameter and vortex finder length with an adequate supply of pressure energy maintained the thickening potential of the HC even when the rheology of the fluid was changed. For different working suspensions, the HC hydrocyclone achieved a minimum water split to underflow of 5%, a maximum concentration ratio of 7.0, and a maximum efficiency of 49%. The encouraging results obtained by the HC validated the benefits of the geometric optimization, as they point to a significant advance in the thickening operation of non–Newtonian sludges with a flow behavior index greater than 0.5.
期刊介绍:
The purpose of the journal is to provide for the rapid publication of topical papers featuring the latest developments in the allied fields of mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Its wide ranging coverage of research and practical (operating) topics includes physical separation methods, such as comminution, flotation concentration and dewatering, chemical methods such as bio-, hydro-, and electro-metallurgy, analytical techniques, process control, simulation and instrumentation, and mineralogical aspects of processing. Environmental issues, particularly those pertaining to sustainable development, will also be strongly covered.