Classification Cyclones
Hydrocyclones
Multotec’s hydrocyclones are used worldwide in mining and mineral processing, manufacturing, aggregates, food processing, wastewater management, and other industries.
Our industry-proven range of classification, dense medium, and tailings dam cyclones has been optimised over hundreds of applications across the world to improve equipment lifespan, classification efficiency, and energy consumption.
- Hydrocyclones for classification, densifying, fines recovery, dewatering hydrocyclones, and more
- Achieve precise cut points in your slurry
- Improved capacity and reduced wear rates with scrolled evolute design
- Customised hydrocyclone sizes and designs according to your application requirements
- Innovative designs reduce turbulence and misplacement of product; rubber lips prevent spillage
- Abrasion and heat-resistant liner materials reduce wear
- Innovative weep holes reduce downtime
Multotec manufactures a complete range of off-the-shelf and customised hydrocyclone separators to match your specific process requirements.
Full technical support and field service, together with high availability of hydrocyclone spare parts and accessories, help ensure maximum plant performance. We are hydrocyclone manufacturers distributing up to 62 hydrocyclone types.
Contact your local Multotec branch to discuss your cyclone separator requirements.Click here
Hydrocyclones for sale:
High-capacity classification cyclones are made with a steel shell and lined with rubber or ceramic as required by your application.
Dense Medium Cyclones
The ultimate in alumina tiled cyclone seperator design! Our Dense Medium cyclones provide max. separation efficiency and wear resistance in harsh applications.
Tailings Dam Cyclones
Our GV Cyclones are designed for use in tailings dams, optimising tailings management. These hydrocyclones weigh just 45 kg, with a 220 mm ID and 20° cone angle.
Cyclone Distributors
Cost-effective, highly-efficient and long-lasting, our wide range of cyclone distributors accommodates between 2 and 62 hydrocyclones.
Cyclone Accessories
Get your hydrocyclone spare parts quickly and conveniently at your local Multotec branch. Liners, spigots, valves, adapters and more!
Cyclone Spares
Multotec manufactures spares for every single part of its DMS and hydrocyclone ranges, amounting to over 10 000 producible hydrocyclone spares.
Multotec is one of the world’s leading hydrocyclone manufacturers.
Engineered for maximum plant performance
Multotec’s hydrocyclone separator technology range comprises hydrocyclone diameters from 25 to 1 400 mm. Most of these diameters can accommodate a range of cone angles, while different vortex finders and spigot diameters are standard for all diameters.
Mini hydrocyclones (up to 100 mm) are manufactured mainly from polyurethane, while larger hydrocyclones can be polyurethane, steel cyclones with bonded or loose rubber lining, and or steel with ceramic lining.
Innovative designs to improve your performance
The design of classification cyclones is a major market differentiator for Multotec. Read more, here. The design of classification cyclones is a major market differentiator for Multotec. Read more, here.
Scrolled evolute design
The scrolled evolute and ribbon inlet hydrocyclone designs have a much higher capacity compared to standard inlet designs. The result is that smaller diameter cyclones can be used, or hydrocyclones can operate at lower pressures, saving on pumping energy. Slurry turbulence at the entry point into the cyclone separator is reduced, as well as vortex finder wear, that can result in particle short-circuiting to the overflow lowering operating costs while maximising separation efficiency.
Weep holes
If the hydrocyclone liner becomes damaged, the material which finds its way between the liner and the hydrocyclone shell will begin to drain from weep holes, indicating that the liner needs to be replaced.
With a better insight into the state of your hydrocyclone liner, you can reduce unplanned stoppages and downtime and extend the life of the hydrocyclone's steel shells.
Weep holes also reduce the required frequency of internal hydrocyclone inspection. This is because hydrocyclones without weep holes require regular inspection to assess the integrity of the liner itself.
Contact Multotec’s hydrocyclone specialists for an assessment of your liners, weep holes and hydrocyclone performance.
Silicon carbide (SiC) lined cyclone components
To improve hydrocyclone component wear characteristics and to ensure they can be used in highly aggressive applications, Multotec has been developing and supplying SiC (Silicon Carbide) lined hydrocyclones and components, with all trial applications showing excellent results. This ensures that the best performance is maintained over a longer period before parts are due for replacement, preventing downtime.
Engineered tiles
Do you process highly abrasive slurry? Multotec uses engineered ceramic tiles to provide a longer-lasting wear surface. Engineered tiles are pressed with chamfered sides and are then cut precisely to the desired shape.
Sized to your process requirements
Hydrocyclones are selected and sized by Multotec's experienced process team using our specialised inhouse hydrocyclone sizing software to achieve the required centrifugal forces and cut points to best suit your precise requirements. For specialised applications, Multotec can custom-design and manufacture a hydrocyclone separator to meet your application requirements. Consider, for example, the monocone, which combines the cone and the spigot of cast iron cyclones into a single unit for specialised applications. Specialised materials of construction are also available for these specialised applications.
You can also do preliminary hydocyclone sizing using our online cyclone sizing software – get access by registering on our Multotec website. This is available both for classification and DMS applications. Read More.
Watch: Multotec Tailings Cyclone
Watch this tailings hydrocyclone video.
Maintaining optimum performance with tailored hydrocyclone service & support
Hydrocyclones need to be correctly maintained to ensure they operate at peak separation efficiency. Your local Multotec branch has the necessary expertise to help ensure your hydrocyclone reliably delivers your required cut points and process parameters, with short lead times on any hydrocyclone spare parts you may need. Learn more about prolonging the life of your hydrocyclones here.
Maintenance should preferably be done on every maintenance shutdown in order to allow for internal inspection. Your local Multotec service crew will provide end-to-end hydrocyclone inspections and servicing, which includes:
- Monitoring the internal condition to determine if any abnormal wear patterns are forming, or (in the case of a ceramic cyclone separator) if any tiles have been damaged
- Measuring the spigot diameter, as hydrocyclone efficiency is affected by spigot diameter increases
- Looking at the vortex finder leading edge (i.e. looking from the spigot side into the vortex finder) to determine if it is still in good condition. If it is not possible to inspect from the spigot side, the vortex finder length can be measured from the top of the hydrocyclone after the overflow pipe has been removed
- Measuring the vortex finder length and spigot diameter
- Checking for excessive grooves in the hydrocyclone body or vortex finder
- Checking for feed inlet and cone wear, uneven surfaces and steps
Multotec offers hydrocyclone optimisation for maximum mineral processing efficiency. In addition, our cyclone division manages the lifecycle of your cyclone seperator, ensuring peak performance minimising the environmental impact of your plant. Contact us to find out more.
Need hydrocyclone spares? We retain stock of all the spare parts you need, which are available with short lead times. Contact us for more information.
Maintaining optimum hydrocyclone pressure
With the Multotec pressure gauge or pressure transmitter installed on your hydrocyclones, plant operators will be quickly notified if there is any surging or pressure drop in the hydrocyclone feed. The reading on the pressure gauge will allow for an accurate calculation of volumetric flow rates to the hydrocyclone, which will make it possible to calculate the mass flow rate.
Lower hydrocyclone pressure results in inefficiencies, while high pressure increases the centrifugal force beyond its design specifications; this increases the cyclone wear rate. Ensuring your hydrocyclone operates in the correct pressure range enables optimum hydrocyclone operation, helping you improve downstream processing performance and reduce costly potential downtime.
Camera Inspection
Multotec has developed the Internal Surface Photographic Inspection (iSpi) system for hydrocyclones. By making use of a 360° camera, our application engineers can offer a system that allows them to inspect the inside of a customer’s hydrocyclone in situ with minimal effort.
When used in conjunction with a coloured dot tile, iSPi can also help detect the remaining lifespan on Alumina lined cyclone seperators.
Sensors and Roping Detectors
Multotec has developed roping detectors that can be fitted to individual cyclones. This is to ensure that your hydrocyclone is not roping, thus compromising cyclone operation. This can alert via various options.
Multotec has sensors that can detect tramp material in your DMS cyclone. This can prevent expensive and extensive damage to your DMS cyclone.
Classification tests inform better equipment selection
Multotec’s long-established hydrocyclone test rig gives confidence to customers' hydrocyclone selection, in line with the company's mission to provide fit-for-purpose solutions in mineral and particle classification.
Learn more about our classification tests on hydrocyclone rigs here.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hydrocyclone used for?
A hydrocyclone separates particles in liquids. They have no moving parts, but instead use centrifugal force to separate matter based on size and density. The cone shape of the cyclone separator produces a vortex when slurry is fed into it, and this force enables the separation of particles. The point of separation between coarse and fine particles is called the cut point.
Coarser particles will exit the hydrocyclone through the underflow discharge, while finer particles will be discharged via the overflow discharge.
Hydrocyclones are used in industries such as mining, minerals processing and aggregates to classify, densify, dewater, de-slime and recover fines.
What is a hydrocyclone in mining?
The mining industry makes use of hydrocyclones to separate coarse and fine particles, according to the size and density of the particles.
Hydrocyclones are an excellent dewatering solution because of their low-cost, low-maintenance design. Multotec dewatering cyclones are ideal for a range of applications in solids dewatering, water recovery and densification applications.
Learn more about what cyclones can and cannot do here.
Busting Hydrocyclone myths: Discover 5 fun facts about Multotec cyclones
How many types of hydrocyclones are there?
There are four main types of hydrocyclones: tangential, axial, helical, and spiral.
What is the difference between a cyclone and a hydrocyclone?
A hydrocyclone is also known as a cyclone separator. This is the equipment used to deslime, dewater and classify or size various products.
Do you have a specific question for our hydrocyclone division?
Get in touch with us here.
Need a quote?
International mining houses such as Glencore Xstrata, Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto use Multotec’s equipment to reduce running costs and optimise plant performance.