Cyclone performance calculations

Calculations are made for five (5) types of cyclones:

Fine Split or Ultra Conservative
High Efficiency or Conservative
Typical (Standard) or Normal
Extended Capacity
Coarse Split or Blunt cone

Calculations are available by:

Capacity - you specify the desired capacity (per cyclone) and the cyclone dimensions
and results are calculated. Note this is for ONE (1) cyclone.
Cyclone Diameter - specify the cyclone diameter and the results are calculated.
Again this is for ONE (1) cyclone.
Dimensions - specify the desired dimensions and results are calculated compare
to a typical or normal cyclone

To use enter the required data in the highlighted cells

No error checking is done, impossible input will give impossible output.
In US Units
Minimum required information is material density (#/cu. Ft), feed rate (dry solids) (t/hr), desired total cyclone
capacity (g/min), cyclone feed pressure (psig) at inlet, vortex finder pipe wall thickness (inch),
and the number of cyclones.
In SI Units
Minimum required information is material density (Kg/M^3), feed rate (dry solids) (T/hr), desired total cyclone
capacity (M^3/hr), cyclone feed pressure (kPa) at inlet, vortex finder pipe wall thickness (mm),
and the number of cyclones.
For efficiency a size distribution in microns and % weight retained in each size is required.
 Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis
Copyright 2010, M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE
General
Location New Plant Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, and is
for the use of knowledgeable professionals, capable of evaluating the accuracy of the results.
Application Dewatering The author is not responsible for the use to which these results are put.
Units M
\
Feed Material Sand & Gravel Cyclone Capacity m^3/hr 228.00
Density kg/m^3 215.0 feed pressure kPa 35.00
Feed Rate (dry solids) T/hr 41.0 Thickness of vortex finder pipe wall mm 51.000
% Solids % wt 8.2% Number of Cyclones 2
CYCLONE SIZING - BY CAPACITY
FINE HIGH TYPICAL HIGH COARSE
SPLIT EFFICIENCY CAPACITY SPLIT
Cyclone Capacity (each) m^3/hr Q = 114.00 114.00 114.00 114.00 114.00
Cyclone diameter (inside) mm D = 891.23 591.76 471.22 370.04 431.43
Inlet Area sq cm A = 151.50 143.73 128.55 126.06 151.50
Feed Inlet Diameter mm I = 138.89 135.28 127.94 126.69 138.89
inlet height mm h = 123.09 146.83 156.29 194.47 174.07
inlet width mm w = 123.09 97.89 82.26 64.82 87.04
Inlet to Vortex pipe clearance mm c = 49.24 29.37 20.56 12.96 13.06
diameter vortex (inside) mm d = 131.76 135.28 143.04 144.45 131.76
lid clearance mm l = 49.24 39.16 32.90 25.93 34.81
Bottom Inlet to top cylinder mm b = 246.18 146.83 78.14 97.23 174.07
Cylinder Height mm H = 418.50 332.82 267.33 317.63 382.96
Apex Opening Diameter mm A = 89.12 88.76 70.68 92.51 75.50
Cone Height mm C = 2,274.49 690.99 550.24 272.35 177.96
Body Length mm B = 2,692.99 1,023.81 817.57 589.98 560.92
Inlet velocity m/sec IV = 2.09 2.20 2.46 2.51 2.09
Pressure drop factor PD = 1.49 1.65 2.07 2.15 1.49
Net Head factor Nh = 9.10 8.03 7.39 6.26 7.25
Pressure drop through cyclone kPa Pd = 17.96 17.61 20.26 17.86 14.32
Cone Angle degrees ca = 10.00 20.00 20.00 27.00 45.00
Feed Size Distribution
Size % % Cum % Cum
microns Retained Pass Retained
Size Distribution
500.0 2.0% 98.0% 2.0% 1
300.0 3.0% 95.0% 5.0%
200.0 5.0% 90.0% 10.0%
150.0 10.0% 80.0% 20.0% 0.8
% Wt.

75.0 15.0% 65.0% 35.0%

50.0 15.0% 50.0% 50.0%
25.0 10.0% 40.0% 60.0% 0.6
12.5 15.0% 25.0% 75.0%
7.5 12.5% 12.5% 87.5%
5.0 7.5% 5.0% 95.0% 0.4
2.5 3.0% 2.0% 98.0%
0.0 2.0% 0.0% 100.0%
Notes 0.2

0
0 2 4 6
Size (microns) 8 10 12
 Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis
Copyright 2010, M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE
General
Location New Plant
Application Dewatering
Units (US/Metric) M
Cyclone Performance
FINE HIGH TYPICAL HIGH COARSE
SPLIT EFFICIENCY CAPACITY SPLIT
Cyclone Capacity (each) m^3/hr Q = 114.00 114.00 114.00 114.00 114.00
Cyclone diameter (inside) mm D = 891.23 591.76 471.22 370.04 431.43
Number of Cyclones No. = 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
% Feed solids = 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08
Pressure Drop kPa Pd = 17.96 17.61 20.26 17.86 14.32
Solids Sp. Gr = 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03
Liquid Sp. Gr. = 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
D50 (Base) = 23.50 32.08 36.71 47.74 40.29
C1 = Correction Factor for % Solids in Feed = 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
C2 = Correction Factor for Pressure Drop = 1.51 1.52 1.46 1.52 1.62
C3 = Correction Factor for Specific Gravity = 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.27
D50 (actual) = 45.24 62.12 68.13 92.03 83.01
Size % % Cum % Cum % Wt % Wt % Wt % Wt % Wt
microns Retained Pass Retained U'Flow U'Flow U'Flow U'Flow U'Flow
500.0 2.0% 98.0% 2.0% 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
300.0 3.0% 95.0% 5.0% 3.00 2.99 2.98 2.94 2.96
200.0 5.0% 90.0% 10.0% 4.97 4.90 4.87 4.73 4.78
150.0 10.0% 80.0% 20.0% 9.83 9.57 9.45 9.06 9.20
75.0 15.0% 65.0% 35.0% 13.64 12.86 12.54 11.81 12.04
50.0 15.0% 50.0% 50.0% 12.64 11.80 11.45 10.82 11.00
25.0 10.0% 40.0% 60.0% 7.27 6.81 6.58 6.34 6.39
12.5 15.0% 25.0% 75.0% 9.60 9.14 8.84 8.72 8.71
7.5 12.5% 12.5% 87.5% 7.48 7.21 6.98 6.97 6.93
5.0 7.5% 5.0% 95.0% 4.31 4.20 4.06 4.09 4.06
2.5 3.0% 2.0% 98.0% 1.65 1.62 1.57 1.60 1.58
0.0 2.0% 0.0% 100.0% 1.05 1.04 1.01 1.04 1.03
Efficiency % = 77.45 74.15 72.34 70.13 70.68
FEED Pulp m^3/hr 114.00 114.00 114.00 114.00 114.00
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04
Water m^3/hr 103.87 103.87 103.87 103.87 103.87
Solids T/hr 20.5 20.5 20.5 20.5 20.5
% by weight solids 8.2% 8.2% 8.2% 8.2% 8.2%
% by volume solids 4.2% 4.2% 4.2% 4.2% 4.2%
Overflow Pulp m^3/hr 70.46 70.82 87.02 66.97 83.09
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Water m^3/hr 68.18 68.20 84.22 63.95 80.12
Solids T/hr 4.6 5.3 5.7 6.1 6.0
% by weight solids 0.4% 0.5% 0.4% 0.6% 0.5%
% by volume solids 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.3% 0.2%
Underflow Pulp m^3/hr 43.54 43.18 26.98 47.03 30.91
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.19 1.18 1.28 1.16 1.24
Water m^3/hr 35.70 35.67 19.65 39.92 23.75
Solids T/hr 15.9 15.2 14.8 14.4 14.5
% by weight solids 30.8% 29.9% 43.0% 26.5% 37.9%
% by volume solids 18.0% 17.4% 27.2% 15.1% 23.2%
 Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis
Copyright 2010, M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE
General
Location New Plant Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, and is for
the use of knowledgeable professionals, capable of evaluating the accuracy of the results. The
Application Dewatering author is not responsible for the use to which these results are put.
Units US
Process Data
Feed Material Sand & Gravel Cyclone Diameter inch 48.00
Density #/cu ft 150.0 feed pressure psig 20.00
Feed Rate (dry solids) t/hr 15000.0 Thickness of vortex finder pipe wall inch 0.500
% Solids % wt 20.0% Pulp Flow g/min 264969
CYCLONE SIZING - BY DIAMETER
FINE HIGH TYPICAL HIGH COARSE
SPLIT EFFICIENCY CAPACITY SPLIT
Cyclone Capacity (each) g/min Q = 3,070.92 6,909.57 9,404.69 17,321.91 13,867.13
Number of Cyclones No. = 86 38 28 15 19
Inlet Area sq inch A = 72.38 162.86 221.67 408.28 326.85
Feed Inlet Diameter inch I = 9.60 14.40 16.80 22.80 20.40
inlet height inch h = 8.51 15.63 20.52 35.00 25.57
inlet width inch w = 8.51 10.42 10.80 11.67 12.78
Inlet to Vortex pipe clearance inch c = 3.40 3.13 2.70 2.33 1.92
diameter vortex (inside) inch d = 9.11 14.40 18.78 26.00 19.35
lid clearance inch l = 3.40 4.17 4.32 4.67 5.11
Bottom Inlet to top cylinder inch b = 17.02 15.63 10.26 17.50 25.57
Cylinder Height inch H = 28.93 35.43 35.10 57.16 56.25
Apex Opening Diameter inch A = 4.80 7.20 7.20 12.00 8.40
Cone Height inch C = 122.50 56.05 56.05 35.33 19.80
Body Length inch B = 151.43 91.48 91.15 92.49 76.05
Inlet velocity ft/sec IV = 13.61 13.61 13.61 13.61 13.61
Pressure drop factor PD = 6.95 6.95 6.95 6.95 6.95
Net Head factor Nh = 9.10 8.03 7.39 6.26 7.25
Pressure drop through cyclone psig Pd = 12.16 10.73 9.88 8.38 9.70
Cone Angle degrees ca = 10.00 20.00 20.00 27.00 45.00
Feed Size Distribution
Size % % Cum % Cum
Retained Pass Retained Size Distribution Retained
500.0 0.5% 99.5% 0.5% 1
250.0 7.5% 92.0% 8.0%
150.0 9.0% 83.0% 17.0%
100.0 12.0% 71.0% 29.0% 0.8
% Wt.

75.0 12.0% 59.0% 41.0%

53.0 10.0% 49.0% 51.0%
37.0 6.0% 43.0% 57.0% 0.6
0.0 43.0% 0.0% 100.0%
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.4
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
Notes 0.2

0
0 2 4 6
Size (microns) 8 10 12
 Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis
Copyright 2010, M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE
General
Location New Plant
Application Dewatering
Units (US/Metric) US
Cyclone Performance
FINE HIGH TYPICAL HIGH COARSE
SPLIT EFFICIENCY CAPACITY SPLIT
Cyclone Capacity (each) g/min Q = 3070.92 6909.57 9404.69 17321.91 13867.13
Cyclone diameter (inside) inch D = 86.28 38.35 28.17 15.30 19.11
Number of Cyclones No. = 86 38 28 15 19
% Feed solids = 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20
Pressure Drop psig Pd = 12.16 10.73 9.88 8.38 9.70
Solids Sp. Gr = 2.40 2.40 2.40 2.40 2.40
Liquid Sp. Gr. = 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
D50 (Base) = 43.46 45.10 48.84 49.36 43.67
C1 = Correction Factor for % Solids in Feed = 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01
C2 = Correction Factor for Pressure Drop = 0.95 0.99 1.01 1.07 1.02
C3 = Correction Factor for Specific Gravity = 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08
D50 (actual) = 45.21 48.70 54.07 57.43 48.62
Size % % Cum % Cum % Wt % Wt % Wt % Wt % Wt
- Retained Pass Retained U'Flow U'Flow U'Flow U'Flow U'Flow
500.0 0.5% 99.5% 0.5% 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
250.0 7.5% 92.0% 8.0% 7.49 7.48 7.46 7.45 7.48
150.0 9.0% 83.0% 17.0% 8.84 8.79 8.72 8.67 8.79
100.0 12.0% 71.0% 29.0% 11.35 11.23 11.06 10.95 11.23
75.0 12.0% 59.0% 41.0% 10.87 10.72 10.50 10.38 10.72
53.0 10.0% 49.0% 51.0% 8.46 8.32 8.13 8.02 8.32
37.0 6.0% 43.0% 57.0% 4.69 4.60 4.49 4.43 4.60
0.0 43.0% 0.0% 100.0% 21.67 21.60 21.53 21.55 21.54
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Efficiency % = 73.86 73.25 72.38 71.94 73.19
FEED Pulp g/min 3070.92 6909.57 9404.69 17321.91 13867.13
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.13
Water g/min 2780.59 6252.50 8512.95 15657.33 12552.98
Solids t/hr 174.4 394.7 535.7 1000.0 789.5
% by weight solids 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% 20.0%
% by volume solids 9.4% 9.4% 9.4% 9.4% 9.4%
Overflow Pulp g/min 2704.78 6063.76 8558.88 14893.11 12704.29
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Water g/min 2628.90 5887.97 8312.62 14426.04 12351.93
Solids t/hr 45.6 105.6 147.9 280.6 211.7
% by weight solids 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.5% 0.4%
% by volume solids 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%
Underflow Pulp g/min 366.14 845.81 845.81 2428.80 1162.84
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.82 1.80 2.07 1.69 2.16
Water g/min 151.69 364.52 200.34 1231.28 201.05
Solids t/hr 128.8 289.1 387.8 719.4 577.8
% by weight solids 77.3% 76.0% 88.6% 70.0% 92.0%
% by volume solids 58.6% 56.9% 76.3% 49.3% 82.7%
 Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis
Copyright 2010, M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE
General
Location New Plant Hydrocyclone Design & Analysis is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind,
and is for the use of knowledgeable professionals, capable of evaluating the accuracy
Application Dewatering of the results. The author is not responsible for the use to which these results are put.
Units US
Process Data
Feed Material Cu Tails
Density #/cu ft 150.0 feed pressure psig 35.00
Feed Rate (dry solids) t/hr 13750.0 Thickness of vortex finder pipe wall inch 0.500
% Solids % wt 28.0% Pulp Flow g/min 164317
CYCLONE SIZING - BY DIMENSION
TYPICAL SPECIIFIED
Cyclone Capacity (each) g/min Q = 13693.05 13693.05
Number of Cyclones No. = 12.00 12.00
Cyclone diameter (inside) inch D = 72.00 72.00
Inlet Area sq inch A = 18.86 483.00
Feed Inlet Diameter inch I = 4.90 4.92
inlet height inch h = 5.99 6.01
inlet width inch w = 3.15 3.16
Inlet to Vortex pipe clearance inch c = 0.79 0.63
diameter vortex (inside) inch d = 5.48 140.00
lid clearance inch l = 1.26 1.26
Bottom Inlet to top cylinder inch b = 2.99 3.00
Cylinder Height inch H = 10.24 10.28
Apex Opening Diameter inch A = 2.10 50.00
Cone Height inch C = 96.02 30.22
Body Length inch B = 106.26 40.50
Inlet velocity ft/sec IV = 232.97 231.22
Pressure drop factor PD = 2035.27 2004.84
Net Head factor Nh = 7.39 7.39
Pressure drop through cyclone psig Pd = 2894.78 2851.50
Cone Angle degrees ca = 20.00 20.00
Feed Size Distribution
Size % % Cum % Cum
Retained Pass Retained
1 Size Distribution
500.0 2.0% 98.0% 2.0%
300.0 3.0% 95.0% 5.0%
200.0 5.0% 90.0% 10.0%
150.0 10.0% 80.0% 20.0% 0.8
75.0 15.0% 65.0% 35.0%
50.0 15.0% 50.0% 50.0%
25.0 10.0% 40.0% 60.0% 0.6
12.5 15.0% 25.0% 75.0%
7.5 12.5% 12.5% 87.5%
5.0 7.5% 5.0% 95.0% 0.4
2.5 3.0% 2.0% 98.0%
0.0 2.0% 0.0% 100.0%
Notes 0.2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
 Hydrocyclone Datasheet
Copyright 2010, M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE
General
Location New Plant
Application Dewatering
Units (US/Metric) US
Cyclone Performance
TYPICAL SPECIIFIED

Cyclone Capacity (each) g/min Q = 13693.05 13693.05

Cyclone diameter (inside) inch D = 14.00 15.00
Number of Cyclones No. = 12 12
% Feed solids = 0.28 0.28
Pressure Drop psig Pd = 2894.78 2851.50
Solids Sp. Gr = 2.40 2.40
Liquid Sp. Gr. = 0.00 0.00
D50 (Base) = 30.29 31.75
C1 = Correction Factor for % Solids in Feed = 1.01 1.01
C2 = Correction Factor for Pressure Drop = 0.18 0.18
C3 = Correction Factor for Specific Gravity = 0.83 0.83
D50 (actual) = 4.66 4.90
Size % % Cum % Cum % Wt % Wt
- Retained Pass Retained U'Flow U'Flow
500.0 2.0% 98.0% 2.0% 2.00 2.00
300.0 3.0% 95.0% 5.0% 3.00 3.00
200.0 5.0% 90.0% 10.0% 5.00 5.00
150.0 10.0% 80.0% 20.0% 10.00 10.00
75.0 15.0% 65.0% 35.0% 15.00 15.00
50.0 15.0% 50.0% 50.0% 15.00 15.00
25.0 10.0% 40.0% 60.0% 9.98 9.97
12.5 15.0% 25.0% 75.0% 14.49 14.41
7.5 12.5% 12.5% 87.5% 11.25 11.15
5.0 7.5% 5.0% 95.0% 6.22 6.15
2.5 3.0% 2.0% 98.0% 2.12 2.10
0.0 2.0% 0.0% 100.0% 1.00 1.00
Efficiency % = 95.06 94.78
FEED Pulp g/min 13693.05 13693.05
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.20 1.20
Water g/min 11785.71 11785.71
Solids t/hr 1145.8 1145.8
% by weight solids 28.0% 28.0%
% by volume solids 13.9% 13.9%
Overflow Pulp g/min 13626.64 -32572.23
Pulp Sp.Gr. 1.00 1.00
Water g/min 13532.44 -32671.83
Solids t/hr 56.6 59.8
% by weight solids 0.1% 0.0%
% by volume solids 0.0% 0.0%
Underflow Pulp g/min 66.41 46265.28
Pulp Sp.Gr. 39.30 1.05
Water g/min -1746.73 44457.55
Solids t/hr 1089.2 1086.0
% by weight solids 166.9% 8.9%
% by volume solids 2730.0% 3.9%