Numerical Simulations of Gas-Liquid-Solid Flows in a Hydrocyclone Separator

The flow behavior in hydrocyclones is quite complex. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method was used to simulate the flow fields inside a hydrocyclone in order to improve its separation efficiency. In the computational fluid dynamics study of hydrocyclones, the air-core dimension is a key to predicting the mass split between the underflow and overflow. In turn, the mass split influences the prediction of the size classification curve. Three models, the k–e model, the Reynolds stress model without considering air core and Reynolds stress turbulence model with VOF multiphase model for simulating aircore, were compared for the predictions of velocity, axial and tangential velocity distributions and separation proportion. The RSM with aircore simulation model, since it produces some detailed features of the turbulence and multi phase, is clearly closer in predicting the experimental data than the other two.