CFD applied to the analysis of hydrodynamics in a hydrocyclone

Abstract

Although the construction, maintenance and operation of hydrocyclones is simple in nature, it is known that the hydrodynamic behavior inside hydrocyclones is quite complex. Among the features which confer this complexity stands out: high vorticity preservation, vortex breakdown, flow inversion, and the possibility of formation of air core due to the generation of a low pressure area in the central axis of the separator. In this sense this work aimed to study the hydrodynamics of a hydrocyclone using as tool the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The simulated results were obtained considering two different models for turbulence: Reynolds stress model and Large Eddy simulation methodology. Can be highlighted as main simulated variables the flow ratio and the pressure drop of the hydrocyclone, which were compared with experimental values. In order to evaluate the influence of air core on the simulated variables, were done numerical simulations of the hydrocyclone operating in the presence of air core, using for this, the volume of fluid (VOF) model.