Effect of a vortex plate on turbulent flow within an axial hydrocyclone for preliminary water separation
by Meili Liu; Pingping Qiao; Zhengrui Hu; Yaoyuan Zhang; Jiaqing Chen
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology (IJOGCT), Vol. 36, No. 1, 2024

Abstract: The conflict between separation efficiency and pressure drop has emerged as a key factor affecting the widespread adoption and application of hydrocyclones for preliminary water separation. This study presents a novel approach to enhance hydrocyclone performance by leveraging turbulent coherent structures. Specifically, a vortex plate, designed to interfere with turbulence-coherent structures was placed within the blade region, and its impact on the hydrocyclone's flow field was thoroughly investigated through numerical simulations. The findings reveal that this method selectively alters the turbulent micro-flow field, reducing drag losses without affecting the macro time-averaged flow field. Consequently, it successfully addresses the inherent conflict between separation efficiency and pressure drop. An appropriately positioned vortex plate exhibited remarkable outcomes, including a significant 74% reduction in the offset distance of the vortex centre, a 1.56% increase in water separation efficiency, a 12.68% reduction in the oil concentration of the heavy phase outlet, and an 18.1% reduction in underflow pressure drop. These outcomes demonstrate the dual benefits of improving separation efficiency and minimising energy loss, underlining the potential of this approach for optimising hydrocyclone performance. [Received: December 2, 2023; Accepted: February 3, 2024]

Online publication date: Wed, 03-Jul-2024

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