Abstract:A CFD based numerical simulation of flow velocity of hydrocyclone was conducted with different structural and operational parameters to investigate its distribution characteristics and influencing mechanism. The results show there exist several unsymmetrical envelopes of equal vertical velocities in both upward inner flows and downward outer flows in the hydrocyclone, and the cone angle and apex diameter have remarkable influence on the vertical location of the cone bottom of the envelope of zero vertical velocity. It is also found that the tangential velocity isolines exist in the horizontal planes located in the effective separation region of hydrocyclone. The increase of feed pressure has almost no effect on the distribution characteristics of both vertical velocity and tangential velocity in hydrocyclone, but the magnitude and gradient of tangential velocity are increased obviously to make the motion velocity of high density particles to the wall increased and to make the cyclonic separation effect improved.

Key words: numerical simulation; hydrocyclone; flow velocity characteristics; structural parameter; operational parameter; cyclonic separation effect