Separation of oil-sand-water mixtures is vital in oil sands production and
processing. The co-existence of sand and oil in oily water systems can caus
e corrosion problems to the operational facilities and equipment. Immoderat
e oil and oil-coated sand levels have negative impacts on the environment.
This research attempts to provide further understanding and some solutions
to this problem by hybridization of two hydrocyclones for solid-liquid and
liquid-liquid separation. The hybrid hydrocyclone is hydrodynamically, desi
gned to incorporate a transverse aperture for sand rejection, a transformat
ion of which enables concurrent liquid-solid-liquid three-phase separation
of the oily sands. Through computer simulation the hybrid hydrocyclone has
demonstrated promising performance in separating oil-sand-water in a single
-stage oil sands production operation. For concentration up to 40% by mass
of feed there was good stability and accuracy in the model determination. B
eyond that, droplet degeneration and breakup and bedding, and bridging of t
he hybrid spigot by sand characterized poor accuracy. Two distinct phases o
f behaviour were exhibited in the hybrid model - collinear velocity spectra
as the forced vortex flow emanated through a 5-mm radius cylindrical envel
ope co-axial with the hybrid and parabolic spectra as the flow proceeded be
yond this transition envelope towards to its wall liberating the vortex. (C
) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.