Water Only Cyclones

Water-only cyclones are used in fines coal recovery plants and can recover particles of 0.5mm.  Larger plants may include banks of cyclones operating together.  The water-only cyclone operates in exactly the same way as a natural medium cyclone.

Operation

In cyclones, the small particles are separated by centrifugal and vortex action (the cyclone itself does not move).

The water/particle mixture is pumped into the side of the cyclone tangentially (1) and swirls around creating a vortex in which the lighter particles are sucked to the middle (and out to a dewatering screen).  The heavier particles are thrown by centrifugal force to the wall of the cyclone and are discharged at the opposite end (3).