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Hydrocyclones are simple mechanical devices, with out moving parts, designed to speed up the settling process. Feed pressure is transformed into centrifugal force inside the cyclone or cone to accelerate particle settling in accordance with Stoke’s Law #1. In essence, a cyclone is a miniature settling pit which alloys very rapid settling of solids under controlled conditions.
Hydrocyclones have become important in solid control systems because of their ability to efficiently remove particles smaller than the finest mesh screens. They are also uncomplicated devices, which make them easy to use and maintain.
A hydrocyclone consist of a conical shell with a small opening at the bottom for the underflow discharge, a larger opening at the top for liquid discharge through an internal “vortex finder” and a feed nozzle on the side of the body near the wide (top) end of the cone.
Drilling mud enters the cyclone under pressure from a centrifugal feed pump. The velocity of the mud causes the particles to rotate rapidly within the main chamber of the cyclone. Light, fine solids and the liquid phase of the mud tend to spiral inward and upward for discharge through the liquid outlet. Heavy, coarse solids and the liquid film around them tend to spiral outward and downward for discharge through the solid outlet or under flow.
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