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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.
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.
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