Hydrocyclones play a dual role in grading and concentration in quartz sand
wet production lines. The two most common problems are a decrease in grading
efficiency, overflow and coarsening, or bottom flow pinching, which directly
affect the operational indicators of subsequent magnetic separation and
dehydration processes. The investigation should be carried out in the order of
"pressure first, concentration then, structure".
Feeding pressure. The feeding pressure of the cyclone is the primary
parameter that affects the classification accuracy. When the pressure is too
low, the slurry flow rate is insufficient, the centrifugal force is not enough,
and coarse particles are prone to overflow, causing coarsening; If the pressure
is too high, fine particles will be thrown into the bottom flow, causing the
bottom flow to become finer and heavier. It is recommended to maintain the
normal operating pressure within the range of 0.1-0.2 MPa and observe whether
the pressure gauge reading is stable and fluctuating.
Feed concentration. When the concentration is too high, the viscosity of the
slurry increases, the settling resistance of particles increases, and the
classification accuracy decreases; If the concentration is too low, the
processing capacity will be insufficient and water consumption will increase.
Experience has shown that the grading effect is more ideal when the
concentration of quartz sand grading feed is controlled at 15% -25%.
The degree of wear on the sand settling nozzle. The sand settling nozzle is
the most easily worn component of the cyclone. As the aperture wear increases,
the discharge of the bottom flow increases, and a large number of fine particles
are discharged with the bottom flow, resulting in a significant decrease in
classification efficiency. It is recommended to measure the actual aperture of
the sand settling nozzle once a week. If the wear exceeds 20% of the design
value, it should be replaced in a timely manner. It can be preliminarily judged
by observing the shape of the bottom flow discharge in daily life. It is normal
for the bottom flow to be uniformly sprayed in an umbrella shape. If it is
sprayed in a column shape or intermittently, it indicates that the sand settling
nozzle may be worn or blocked.
For equipment selection and operation optimization related issues, please
contact the technical team of Shandong Heavy Industry for communication and
exchange: Manager Zhang 13583776655 (same as WeChat).