Hydrocyclone for liquid - liquid separation and method

A high efficiency hydrocyclone for separation of a lower density liquid from a higher density liquid comprising:

• a hydrocyclone body having a hydrocyclone body wall;
• an elongated hydrocyclone cavity defined by said hydrocyclone body wall;
• said hydrocyclone cavity having an overflow end, an underflow end, and a substantially centrally located axis extending between said underflow end and said overflow end;
• said hydrocyclone cavity having a substantially circular cross section throughout its axial length;
• said hydrocyclone cavity further having an inlet chamber portion proximal said overflow end and a separation portion extending from said inlet chamber portion to said underflow end;
• at least one inlet orifice in said hydrocyclone body wall in flow communication with said inlet chamber portion of said hydrocyclone cavity;
• said at least one inlet orifice positioned and constructed to communicate a liquid mixture into said inlet chamber portion in a direction that is tangential to said hydrocyclone body wall;
• thereby said introduced liquid mixture creates a swirling vortex flow path in said hydrocyclone cavity;
• said separation portion having a diameter that continuously decreases towards said underflow end;
• the decrease of said diameter of said separation portion is linear;
• whereby said separation portion is frustoconical;
• said separation portion has an included taper angle between 1.degree. and 3.degree.;
• so that said separation portion gradually decreases in diameter, thereby, increasing the centrifugal forces imparted on said liquid mixture in order to facilitate separation of a less dense liquid of said liquid mixture from a more dense liquid;
• whereby the gradual decrease in said separation portion diameter further promotes conservation of fluid momentum and separation toward said underflow end;
• an overflow orifice positioned and constructed to provide for evacuation of said less dense liquid;
• at least one underflow orifice proximal said underflow end positioned and constructed to provide for evacuation of said more dense liquid;
• said hydrocyclone cavity terminating at said underflow end;
• and
• whereby no additional separation occurs within said hydrocyclone beyond said underflow end;
• said hydrocyclone cavity has a geometry according to the following relationships:
• D.sub.u /D.sub.i <0.4
• 25<L.sub.1 /D.sub.i .ltoreq.50
• where D.sub.i is the internal diameter at said overflow end, D.sub.u is the internal diameter at said underflow end, and L.sub.t is the axial length of said separation portion.

A high efficiency hydrocyclone for separation of a lower density liquid from a higher density liquid comprising:

• a hydrocyclone body having a hydrocyclone body wall;
• an elongated hydrocyclone cavity defined by said hydrocyclone body wall;
• said hydrocyclone cavity having an overflow end, an underflow end, and a substantially centrally located axis extending between said underflow end and said overflow end;
• said hydrocyclone cavity having a substantially circular cross section throughout its axial length;
• said hydrocyclone cavity further having an inlet chamber portion proximal said overflow end and a separation portion extending from said inlet chamber portion to said underflow end;
• at least one inlet orifice in said hydrocyclone body wall in flow communication with said inlet chamber portion of said hydrocyclone cavity;
• said at least one inlet orifice positioned and constructed to communicate a liquid mixture into said inlet chamber portion in a direction that is tangential to said hydrocyclone body wall;
• thereby said introduced liquid mixture creates a swirling vortex flow path in said hydrocyclone cavity;
• said separation portion having a cross sectional area that continuously decreases towards said underflow end;
• so that said separation portion gradually decreases in diameter, thereby, increasing the centrifugal forces imparted on said liquid mixture in order to facilitate separation of a less dense liquid of said liquid mixture from a more dense liquid;
• whereby the gradual decrease in said separation portion diameter further promotes conservation of fluid momentum and separation toward said underflow end;
• an overflow orifice positioned and constructed to provide for evacuation of said less dense liquid;
• at least one underflow orifice proximal said underflow end positioned and constructed to provide for evacuation of said more dense liquid;
• said hydrocyclone cavity terminating at said underflow end;
• whereby no additional separation occurs within said hydrocyclone beyond said underflow end;
• said separation portion having a first taper section and a second taper section;
• said first taper section adjacent said second taper section;
• said first taper section and said second taper section having a linear decrease of said diameter;
• whereby said first taper section and said second taper section are frustoconical;
• said first taper section proximal said inlet chamber portion;
• said second taper section adjacent said underflow end;
• said first taper section having a predetermined first taper section taper angle;
• said second taper section having a predetermined second taper section taper angle;
• and
• said first taper section taper angle is greater than said second taper section taper angle.