Investigations concerning the effectiveness of pump hydrocyclone operation

The paper deals with the results of investigations concerning the design of a pump hydrocyclone destined for initial purification of mechanical impurities contained in the liquid. The single suction rotational pump impeller and separator (catcher) of impurities are the basic elements of the pump hydrocyclone. A mathematical model of the translocation of solid bodies in the liquid flowing by the impeller of the pump hydrocyclone has been developed. The assumption for the computational method was that the mechanical impurity (solid) has a spherical shape and after flowing out of the impeller together with the liquid, moves with a speed different from that of the liquid. Test-stand investigations were carried out in a pump hydrocyclone with vertical axis. Investigations were carried out at constant rotational speed of the impeller and different volumetric flow rates at the outlet. The investigations made possible the verification of the method of designing the pump hydrocyclone. They also made possible the determination of the relation between the effectiveness measure of separating solid grains from liquid and the volumetric fraction of flow fluid with impurities at the sink. The purpose of the testing was also to determine the pump hydrocyclone operation characteristics.