Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology

College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Ceramics, Metallurgical and Mining Engineering

Prepared by: Kimmy Robert R. de Chavez

Subject and Section: MetE 125 C12-Mineral Processing I
Instructor: Prof. Vannie Joy T. Resabal
Topic: Hydrocyclones

I. Introduction:
Rapid settling and classification is achieved by increasing the force acting on the particles
by replacing the gravitational force by centrifugal forces. Several types of equipment based on this
principle are used for the purpose, such as the hydrocyclone .The hydrocyclone is a continuously
operating classifying device that utilizes centrifugal force to accelerate the settling rate of particles.
It has been proved to be extremely efficient at fine sizes which makes it one of most important
devices in the minerals industry. Almost all crushing and grinding circuits include hydrocyclones
in close circuit to yield a product of that requires size distribution. It has also many other uses,
such as de-sliming, de-gritting, and thickening.

II. Parts of a Hydrocyclone

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of a

Hydrocyclone
 A typical hydrocyclone (Figure 1) consists of a conically shaped vessel, open at its apex or
underflow, joined to a cylindrical section, which has a tangential feed inlet. The top of the feed
chamber is closed with a plate through which a pipe known as a vortex finder passes. The vortex
finder is a short, removable section that prevents short-circuiting of feed directly into the overflow.
Below the feed chamber the body of a cyclone is shaped like an inverted cone, which converges
to a smaller cone, which serves as the outlet of the coarser size fractions in the feed. The feed
chamber and the cones are lined inside with rubber or synthetic linings due to abrasive nature of
most metallurgical slurries. The lining material is hard rubber, neoprene or urethane. In some
cases, the protective lining is sprayed inside forming a hard monolithic bond with the base metal.
The apex is sometimes fitted with a concentric, hardwearing synthetic rubber inner sleeve, which
can be squeezed hydraulically or pneumatically to alter the diameter of the opening.

III. Hydrocyclone Operating Principle

As shown in Figure 2, the particles within the flow pattern of a hydrocyclone action are
subjected to two opposing forces-an outward centrifugal force and inwardly acting drag. The
particles that migrate to the apex of the hydrocyclone are the faster settling particles that moves to
the wall of the cyclone due to the centrifugal force. The walls of cyclone is where the velocity is
lowest. The slower-settling particles, with the action of the rag force, move towards the zone of
low pressure along the axis and are carried upward through the vortex finder to the overflow.

Figure 2. Forces acting on an orbiting particle in the hydrocyclone

 The existence of an outer region of downward flow and an inner region of upward flow
implies a position at which there is no vertical velocity. This applies that throughout the greater
part of the cyclone body, and envelope of zero vertical velocity should exist throughout the body
of the cyclone (Figure 3). Greater centrifugal force throws particles outside the envelope of zero
velocity exits via the underflow while those particles that are swept to the center by the greater
drag force force leave in the overflow. Particles lying on the envelope of zero velocity are acted
upon by equal centrifugal and drag forces and have an equal chance of reporting either to the
underflow or overflow.

Figure 4. Distribution of the vertical and radial Figure 5. Regions of similar size
components of velocity in hydrocyclone distribution within hydrocyclone

Figure 5 shows the results of the experimental work reported by Renner and Cohen that
shown that classification does not take place throughout the whole body of the hydrocyclone. The
interior of the hydrocyclone may be divided into four regions that contain distinctively different
size distributions. Essentially unclassified feed exits in region A, adjacent to the wall and roof of
the cyclone. Region B contains fully classified coarse material with practically uniform size
distribution and resembles that of a coarse material. Fully classified fine material is contained in
region C, a narrow region surrounding the vortex finder and extending below the latter along the
cyclone axis. Only in region D does classification takes place in which the size fractions are
radially distributed, so that decreasing sizes show maxima at decreasing radial distances from the
axis
Hydrocyclones are generally installed at an elevated position above the grinding unit so
that the coarse underflow product can flow by gravity back to the grinding unit for further size
reduction. The configurations adopted in practice are varied. Three typical set-ups are illustrated
in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Hydrocyclones in closed circuits with grinding mills

For a better control of the product size, hydrocyclones are connected in series (Figure 7),
while for greater throughput cyclones are connected in parallel.
 Figure 7. Hydrocyclones connected in series, two-stage classification

IV. Hydrocyclone Machines