No description available.

No description available.

A computational and physical modelling study is made of the removal of inclusions from liquid steel by use of a novel form of hydrocyclone in which a solid conical core that replaces the conventional vortex finder acts as a guide to the spiralling liquid flow and acts also as a capture surface for disentrained inclusions. In preliminary investigations, an inviscid computational model is derived that is found to be effective in outlining the general behaviour of specific hydrocyclone flows when tested against published experimental results. The more generally applicable commercial CFD code Fluent is likewise tested, from which it is shown that, among the turbulence models available, the anisotropic turbulence typical of spiralling hydrocyclone flows requires a form of Reynolds stress model for effective computation. The conventional k-c model is found to be misleading. On this basis, mathematical modelling and optimal computational design of hydrocyclones containing an axial conical solid core show that the separation efficiency of the cyclone is profoundly enhanced by the presence of a core, and that by use of a particle tracking model effective centripetal migration of inclusion particles in steel will occur towards the core. Experiments with a water model of computed optimal cyclone designs provided effective validation of the numerical study. Photographically active particles of neutral density were tracked by a novel stroboscopic technique which permitted bi-directional observation revealing instantaneous velocity, spatial position and spiral angle. Using populations of low density particles having the same spectrum of Stokes velocity as inclusions in the size range 35 to 150 microns found typically in liquid steel, sampling by Coulter counter showed that effective separation to the core surface of particles down to an equivalent size of 30 microns was achieved. In a final step, a pilot cyclone design for use with steel was established and water model tests at full scale showed that stable cyclone flow and discharge are achievable with gravity feed to the cyclone.

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Most mineral and coal processing plants are forced to size their particulate streams in order to maximize the efficiency of their unit operations. Classifiers are generally considered to be more practical than screens for fine sizing, but the separation efficiency decreases dramatically for particles smaller than approximately 150 μm. In addition, classifiers commonly suffer from bypass, which occurs when a portion of the ultrafine particles (slimes) are misplaced by hydraulic carryover into the oversize product. The unwanted misplacement can have a large adverse impact on downstream separation processes. One method of reducing bypass is to inject water into the cyclone apex. Unfortunately, existing water injection systems tend to substantially increase the particle cut size, which makes it unacceptable for ultrafine sizing applications. A new apex washing technology was developed to reduce the bypass of ultrafine material to the hydrocyclone underflow while maintaining particle size cuts in the 25-50 m size range. Another method of reducing bypass is to retreat the cyclone underflow using multiple stages of classifiers. However, natural variations in the physical properties of the feed make it difficult to calculate the exact improvement offered by multistage classification in experimental studies. Therefore, several mathematical equations for multistage classification circuits were evaluated using mathematical tools to calculate the expected impact of multistage hydrocyclone circuits on overall cut size, separation efficiency and bypass. These studies suggest that a two-stage circuit which retreats primary underflow and recycles secondary overflow offers the best balance between reducing bypass and maintaining a small cut size and high efficiency. / Master of Science

This project utilizes hydrocyclones in wastewater treatment to select for heavier solids, and has been used before in multiple small-scale systems. This is the first implementation of hydrocyclones in a full-scale plant for the purpose of increased settleability, while also achieving enhanced biological phosphorus removal without the use of an anaerobic selector. Hydrocyclones receive mixed liquor tangentially and separate light solids from more dense solids through their tapered shape, increasing the velocity of liquid as it moves downward and allowing for selection of a certain solids fraction. The hydrocyclones receive flow from the waste stream, selecting for dense solids to recycle through the process while light solids are wasted, creating a balance of granules and flocs with superior settling characteristics in which phosphorus is removed through phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAO). This project was implemented at a wastewater treatment plant rated at 20 MGD utilizing a 4-stage Bardenpho configuration with an IFAS system. This plant routinely experienced moderate settleability issues with an average SVI of 141 and a 90th percentile SVI of 179. Over time data was collected to characterize settleability and activity of PAO, GAO, and filaments. Using an external selector to achieve biological phosphorus is significant in that most wastewater treatment plants cannot do this without the use of an anaerobic selector. This has the potential to apply external selectors to existing infrastructure throughout plants worldwide to achieve not only biological phosphorus removal, but also improved settleability with a very minor capital investment. / Master of Science

<p> Energy loss was measured across a 3.0 inch hydrocyclone operating with and without an air core. </p> <p> The separational efficiency, as indicated by the (Dp)50 diameter, was measured as a function of feed concentration, feed flow rate and volume split. </p> <p> This (Dp)50 "cut size" was obtained from mass balances on the total solids and particle size distributions for the feed, overflow and underflow. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

L'exploitation minière des sables bitumineux requiert une succession de nombreuses opérations pour séparer le bitume, l'eau et le sable. La séparation solide/liquide fait intervenir un hydrocyclone. Afin de limiter l'ajout d'eau, l'hydrocyclone doit fonctionner dans des conditions inhabituelles correspondant à une concentration élevée à l'alimentation. Une étude expérimentale a permis de caractériser l'ensemble des régimes de fonctionnement, l'influence de la concentration et des caractéristiques géométriques. De plus, des simulations numériques ont été réalisées avec NEPTUNE_CFD@Tlse. Deux méthodes sont proposées pour modéliser les comportements observés à faible et à forte concentration. Les résultats numériques sont en bon accord avec les expériences sur toute la gamme de concentration. L'étude des phénomènes locaux permet une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de séparation. / Tar sands beneficiation requires a series of processing steps for separation of bitumen, water and sand particles. In this process, hydrocyclones are used to separate sand from water and bitumen, thereby recovering additional bitumen and concentrating sand particles before sending them off to tailing ponds. In order to reduce fresh water consumption (environmental policy), hydrocyclones need to operate with high feed solids content, say 50% in mass, which lays outside their standard operating regime. The response and performance of hydrocyclones need to be understood under such stringent operating conditions. A pilot scale experiment was commissioned for testing a 100mm diam. hydrocyclone under different operating regimes of discharge and measuring the corresponding separation performance. Feed solids concentration and geometrical properties were varied extensively. Separation performance indicators, including partition curve, cut-size, sharpness index and water recovery to underflow were obtained by standard data reconciliation. The experimental data provided all the information required to test the CFD model that was derived to simulate the hydrocyclone. Eulerian simulations of the three-dimensional liquid-solid flow inside the hydrocyclone were carried out, using a multi-fluid model (NEPTUNE_ CFD@Tlse). The actual geometrical features and operating conditions of the hydrocyclone were accurately matched in the simulations. Two simulation approaches have been proposed for hydrocyclone modelling, depending on their operating under dilute conditions, with a spray discharge or dense conditions, with a rope discharge. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experiments. Local analysis of hydrodynamic features yields new insights into the behaviour of hydrocyclones at high feed solids concentration.

Diplomová práce se zabývá prouděním v hydrocyklónu. Hydrocyklón je separační stroj, kterým slouží k oddělování pevných částice z kapaliny (nejčastěji z vody). Díky tangenciálnímu vstupu do zařízení nastává silné vířivé proudění, které způsobuje přisávání vzduchu přes horní a dolní výtok. Toto vzduchové jádro hraje důležitou roli v separaci částic. Výpočty jsou provedeny pomoci CFD.

Hydrocyclone density-driven particle separation may offer up improved settling performance for wastewater treatment facilities experiencing poor settleability. Hydrocyclones are fed mixed liquor through the feed inlet and experience a centrifugal motion that separates solids based on density. The variation in hydrocyclone nozzle sizes will report different calculated hydraulic and mass split percentages for the overflow and underflow. Previous research conducted with hydrocyclones have at multiple full-scale facilities used a 10 m3/hr hydrocyclone to promote better settleability as well as aid the formation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS). There has been a multitude of settling improvement experiments and initiatives for full scale wastewater treatment. However, little research has been produced utilizing larger hydrocyclones (20 m3/hr) at a full-scale wastewater treatment facility during continuous operation. Two Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) plants served as sites for this research: James River (JR) Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Newport News, VA and Urbanna (UB) Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Urbanna, VA. Both treatment facilities have utilized the hydrocyclone for more than two years, to fulfill wasting requirements. The JR plant operates the hydrocyclone continuously for wasting purposes, while UB only uses the hydrocyclone for approximately 30-45 minutes per day. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the hydrocyclone and its overall impact on settleability at the JR plant, eight hydrocyclones were installed. JR samples were taken from the underflow sample port (representing a mixture of underflow samples representing the number of hydrocyclones operational at the sample time) and overflow samples were taken from the outfall point of a single hydrocyclone. The UB plant only operated one 5 m3/hr hydrocyclone on Treatment Train 1 during wasting operations, while Treatment Train 2 served as the control train for the duration of this research. Hydrocyclone performance at JR was assessed through direct measurement of hydraulic and mass split of the underflow and overflow components, initial settling velocity (ISV), sludge volume index (SVI), and SVI5/SVI30 ratio. UB hydrocyclone and settling performance was measured by ISV, SVI5, SVI30, and SVI5/SVI30 ratios during different comparison experiments: hydrocyclone vs. no hydrocyclone, hydrocyclone vs. polymer addition, and hydrocyclone with polymer addition to Train 1 vs. polymer-only addition to Train 2. Nutrient concentrations from both treatment trains were collected and analyzed to determine any significant changes based on hydrocyclone use. T-test statistical analysis, and a dose response analysis included direct measurements of the ISV, SVI5, SVI30, mass split percentages, along with the effect of polymer with and without the use of a mechanical selector. Hydrocyclone settleability measurements at JR over time revealed a statistically significant positive correlation with the ISV, SVI5, and SVI30 measurements of the aeration effluent. Therefore, the hydrocyclone statistically had a strong impact on three settling parameters that are instrumental in determining overall settling efficiency. Statistically, no strong correlation was determined between the hydrocyclone operation and the total phosphorus (TP) concentration in the secondary effluent, or the ferric addition to the secondary clarifiers. The dose response based on the underflow ISV rate provided understanding of the nozzle comparison and the effect it provided to the underflow sample. Hydrocyclone performance at UB was hindered by the re-seed of Train 1 (inDENSE™) due to over wasting, and most of the data were not representative. Before the re-seed, hydrocyclone performance was improving the overall settleability of the mixed liquor in comparison to Train 2 (Control). All settling parameters measured were in favor of the hydrocyclone operation. After the re-seed the plant mixed liquor changed microbial populations for a brief time and was not representative of the overall treatment efficacy. The hydrocyclone did provide a quicker settling velocity than the polymer addition when the polymer addition was steady, and through both polymeric spikes. Polymeric addition to both trains, while inDENSE™ train still employing the hydrocyclone did not provide any conclusive data as to whether polymer addition with the use of a hydrocyclone was more effective than polymer-only addition. Nutrient profiles from UB did not provide any change in NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, or PO4-P, with the hydrocyclone being operational or not on the secondary clarifier effluent. / Master of Science / Wastewater treatment facilities rely on settling tests to be indicators for plant settling performance. A way to improve plant settling is to separate the sludge on a density basis and retain the dense sludge in the system for better performance downstream, while the less dense sludge is taken out of the system. By implementing a mechanical device that can ensure the separation of dense material and be retained in the system can aide in improved plant settling performance by improving settling parameter measurements. With the ability of using a mechanical device (a hydrocyclone) to physically separate sludge on a density-basis, it will improve settling measurements of the plants taken by operators on a daily basis.