CFD-DP Modelling of Multiphase Flow in Dense Medium Cyclone

Abstract

A numerical study of the gas-liquid-solid multi-phase flow in a hydrocyclone is summarized in this paper. The turbulent flow of the gas and the liquid is modelled using the realizable k-epsilon turbulence model, the interface between the liquid and the air core is modelled using the Eulerian multi-phase model and the simulation of the particle flow described by the dense discrete phase model in which the data of the multi-phase flow are used. Separation efficiency, particle trajectories, split ratios, flow field and pressure drop are the examined flow features. The results show that the flow fields in the hydrocyclones are possible to simulate by realizable k-epsilon model which is a fast solver for turbulent flows. The cut size is achieved between 3 and 15 µm. The air-core development is observed to be a transport effect due to the velocity of surrounding fluid rather than a pressure effect. The approach offers a useful method to observe the flow of a hydrocyclone in relation to design of the system and operational conditions.