Application of CFD to hydrocyclone flow prediction

• Main Author: Dlamini, Mduduzi Felix
• Other Authors: Powell, Malcolm
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Mechanical Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5573

Includes bibliographical references. === The mechanical simplicity of the hydrocylone deceptively suggests non-intricate and well-understood device hydrodynamics. On the contrary, improved understanding on the hydrodynamic behaviour and operation of the hydrocyclone are still being sought in order that, its full classification potential may be realised. Current models describing such behaviour are predominantly highly empirical hence the need for continued complementary research via computational techniques such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This dissertation presents the outcome of an investigation into the flow characteristics of a hydrocyclone. Assessment of its hydrodynamic behaviour was conducted via interpretation of numerically predicted velocity and pressure field profiles arising from single phase (water-only) and multiphase (water/air) flow fields.