Hydrocyclone

Hydrocyclones are centrifugal separators for liquid mixtures. They separate or classify solid particles contained in suspensions.

The tangential entry into the cylindrical segment forces the liquid into a circular path and it flows downwards in a downward vortex. The taper in the conical segment causes the volume to be displaced inwards and to accumulate in the lower part of the cone. This leads to the formation of an internal, upward vortex that escapes through the upper outlet. This process separates the heavier fraction (e.g. solids) at the wall of the cyclone, which is then discharged through the lower outlet, while the lighter fraction escapes through the upper outlet.

In addition to the common vertical installation method, cyclones can also be installed horizontally. To separate larger volume flows, several small cyclones are connected in parallel to form batteries, as this achieves a higher separation efficiency than with a single large cyclone.