Technical Note - A generalised model for hydrocyclone classifiers

By K NAGESWARARA0 1

INTRODUCTION (Le/Dc)°·15 6o. 20 } ({P/ppgD e) } -0.22 AO.93)

A generalised mathematical model for hydrocyclone classifiers 3. Recovery of water to underflow, Rr:
was developed by the author (Nageswararao, 1978) using
dimensionless groups which include phenomenological
characteristics as independent variables. This model is
Rr= Kwo [Dc 0.00] { (Do/Dc r1.l 9 (D u/Dc l40 (D j/De )-0.50
incorporated in JKSimMet, the steady state mineral processing
simulator developed by JKTech. . '(Le/Dc) 0.22 6-o·24 } ({P/(ppgD e) r O.53 AO.I.7)
Recently, when this model was rewritten (Lynch and Morrell, 4. Volumetric recovery of feed pulp to underflow, Rv:
1992), in terms of variables other than those used by the author, a
few errors have crept in. For example, while the exponent of
(Du/Dc) in the equation for d50e should be negative (-0.47), it was Rv = Kvo [Dc 0.00] { (Do/Dc )-0.96 (D u/D e )1.83 (D /Dc )-0.25
recorded as positive (0.47). Also, the exponent of (DoIDe) in the
equation for pressure drop should be 0.67 and not 0.60. In the (Le/Dc) 0.22 6-0.24} ({P/(PpgDe)}·0.31)
same equation, the exponent of Dc would turn out to be -0.10 and
not 0.15. These are clearly attributable to typographic and 5. Reduced efficiency curve
rounding off errors, while transforming the original equations. In general, the reduced efficiency curve can be represented
More recently, Cilliers (pers comm) has done a comprehensive by the following equation:
evaluation of the major semi-empirical models for hydrocyclones.
He observed that the major difference between the cyclone model d/dsOc + ea._
developed by the author and other models lies in the method of
E c (d/d50e)= 100 (ea.· d/dSOc _ l )/ (ea.· 2)
quantifying the effect of spigot diameter on d50e. He noted that where
while all other models predict an increase in d50e with a decrease KQo, Kdo, Kwo and Kvo are material specific constants dependent
in the spigot diameter, the model as cited by Lynch and Morrell on the characteristics of feed solids such
(1992) predicts just the opposite. However, he conjectured as specific gravity, size distribution etc;
correctly that the discrepancy could be due to a typographic error. Dc, Do, Du and Dj are the diameters of cyclone,
As the model is still unpublished, it is felt that the original vortex-finder, spigot and inlet
model equations should be recorded with the correct exponents, respectively;
so that errors in predictions other than those due to the limitations Le, 6 are the length of the cylindrical section
of the model itself could be avoided. They are given hereunder. and full cone angle respectively;
MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR P is the pressure drop across the cyclone;
HYDROCYCLONE CLASSIFIERS g is the acceleration due to gravity;
Pp is the density of feed slurry;
The performance of industrial hydrocyclone classifiers can be
completely described by the following equations in which [ ] A is ~ / (l_~)3, ~ being the volumettric
are used for scale factors, { } for design variables and ( ) for fraction of solids in the feed slurry; and
operating variables. ex is the shape factor in the equation for the
I. Pressure - throughput relationship: reduced efficiency curve.

REFERENCES
Lynch, A J and Morrell, S, 1992. The understanding of comminution and
classification and its practical application in plant design and
(Le/De)0.20 6-o.IO} «P/p p ) 0.5~ operation, in Comminution - Theory and Practice, Proceedings of
Annual Meeting, pp 405-426 (The American Institute of Mining,
2. Corrected classification size, d50e: Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers: Warrendale, Pennsylvania).
Nageswararao, K, 1978. Further developments in the modelling and
d50e/D e = KdO [Dc -0.65] { (D o/D e)0.52 (Du/Dc) -0.47 (Dj/Dc) -0.40 scale-up of industrial hydrocyclones, PhD thesis, University of
Queensland.

1. Nonferrous Materials Technology Development Centre,

PO Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad 500 058, India.

2. Original manuscript submitted July 1994.

3. Revised manuscript received July 1995.

The AusIMM Proceedings No 21995 21