The theoretical partition curve of the hydrocyclone

• Particles interaction in a suspension is the reason for the fish-hook-effect.
• Main effects are: hindered settling, counter flow, entrainment of fine particles.
• The fish-hook depends on the solid concentration and the particle size distribution.

In many cases, the hydrocyclone partition curve exhibits a non-monotonic course in the fine particle range. The so-called fish-hook effect indicates an increased separation of the fine fraction, which is of practical interest and has a positive effect on solid/liquid separation. However, for classification purposes, the separation is less distinct. In this contribution an equation of a partition curve containing a fish-hook is derived considering the laws of disturbed settling in dense, polydisperse suspensions. The following effects are considered: the entrainment of fine particles in the boundary layer of the coarse settling particles, the hindered settling due to the increased effective density and viscosity of the fluid, and the counter flow of the displaced fluid caused by the settling particles. The calculations indicate that the fish-hook effect is primarily caused by fine particle entrainment, which is influenced by the feed solid content and the feed particle size distribution. An approximated analytical solution for the partition curve is presented for aRosin–Rammler–Sperling–Bennet (RRSB)-distributed feed. Experiments using 25-mm hydrocyclone confirm the calculations.