| dc.description | A small diameter cylindrical hydrocyclone has been designed, constructed and modeled to separate air from an air-water two-phase flow. The model is capable of predicting significant variables such as bubble cut-size and pressure drop. The prototype is a separator that may be used in a fast flotation system, to remove gas from liquid phase and or remove small amounts of free or emulsified oil from water. An extensive experimental program was conducted. Feed flow rates of 50--70 litres per minute, and pressure 200--350 kPa were used with a mean bubble size between 25--100 mum. The air-water separation was determined at low air dispersion hold-ups. Bubble generation and sizing was carried out in a turbulent unit, which consisted of an orifice plate mounted in a 2.54 cm diameter PVC flange. Bubble size and volume distribution in the feed and hydrocyclone streams were measured using laser scattering techniques and statistically analyzed using a Rosin-Rammler distribution. Empirical models were used to predict the small diameter cylindrical hydrocyclone performance. Hydrocyclone separation efficiency was also examined. Gas-liquid separation was calculated based on air-phase hold-ups and mass balance calculations. Experimental data was compared with model predicted results and variance was found particularly in the overflow stream. A computer code, in Java language, incorporating adopted and modified models that predict pressure drop, separation efficiency and cut-size have been developed. | en_US |
