The Use of Hydrocyclones for Small Particle Separation

Abstract

Hydrocyclone operating characteristics have been studied by measuring the capacity for separating haematite, magnetite and silica particles suspended in water. The effects of viscosity (achieved by changing temperature) and throughput have been investigated and are satisfactorily correlated. The measurements demonstrate that under appropriate conditions of high pressure drop and low viscosity, particles below the usually accepted limit of 2 μm can be separated.

Measured particle separation is expressed as a hydrocyclone efficiency, and its variation with particle size is shown. Anomalous results with magnetite and haematite suspensions are suggested to occur because these materials exist as agglomerates with effective density less than half that of the bulk material.