The Equipment
The Cavex® ReCyclone® is a double
classification unit in just one stage, which improves notably the
Global Classification Efficiency, increasing the Sharpness of
separation and significantly reducing the by-pass of fines to the
underflow. This notable decrease of by-pass, is obtained by the new
design, which is oriented to influence the flow of the viscous
layer of fluid close to the hydrocyclone walls. This is achieved by
mechanically disrupting this viscous layer and altering its
viscosity by water injection.
This reengineering process of a simple idea has allowed a
significant improvement of previous design attempts.
Double Unit design
Undoubtedly a notable improvement in the Classification Efficiency
is achieved by using two or more units connected in series.
Nevertheless, the operation costs are significantly higher and in
most of the industrial applications this solution is avoided.
Consequently, in order to improve the hydrocyclone performance,
several attempts have been made combining two classification stages
in one unit. However, these designs share common problems such as;
high wear in the transfer zone, poor control over the flow
proportion that goes to the second stage and need of operating at
high pressure.
The Cavex® ReCyclone®
design
The Cavex® ReCyclone® uses the
same double classification concept in an single unit, notably
improving deficiencies of previous designs.
The Cavex® ReCyclone® not only
added an ingenious device to control the flow distribution to the
second hydrocyclone, but also solved the wear problem in the
transition zone, through a better control of the turbulence in the
zone. With this, escape of coarse particles to the overflow of the
second cyclone was notably improved. Additionally the critical
pressure, in the first cyclone, at which the second cyclone starts
its operation, was significantly reduced. This conceptual solution
permits in practice, the Cavex®
ReCyclone® to be operated at similar
pressure drops as a conventional hydrocyclone.
On top of that its modular design, made of interchangeable parts,
allows the replacement of only those parts submitted to wear,
increasing thus useful life of the unit and dramatically decreasing
the maintenance costs.
Advantages of the CAVEX ReCyclone
In a summary with the Cavex®
ReCyclone® you may:
* Improve the Global Classification Efficiency.
* Reduce substantially, the by-pass of fines.
* Significantly reduce wear in transition zone.
* Reduce the operation and maintenance costs.
* Improve quality of the flotation product.
* Significantly increase capacity of the
grinding-classification circuits.
Cavex® ReCyclone®
hydrocyclones are available from Weir Minerals in Africa, South
America and Australasia. In Europe, Japan and North America, these
same products are sold as:
Cavex® DE
double efficiency hydrocyclones.
