Hydrocyclone Specifications
The figures below describe typical industry specifications for this class of equipment rather than a single fixed model. Use them to scope a requirement, then confirm exact figures against the supplied unit before purchase.
| Specification | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 100–500 mm for small to mid gold circuits |
| Cut size (d50) | Typically 50–150 µm on mill overflow |
| Feed pressure | 50–150 kPa at the inlet |
| Feed density | 30–45% solids typical |
| Vortex finder | Interchangeable; larger finder coarsens overflow |
| Apex (spigot) | Interchangeable; wear opens the cut |
| Lining | Replaceable rubber or polyurethane |
| Cluster | 2–12 cyclones on a distributor for larger mills |
| Materials | Polyurethane, rubber-lined steel or ceramic for abrasive duty |
What a Hydrocyclone Is Used For
- Closing ball-mill grinding circuits
- Desliming ahead of shaking tables
- Dewatering and thickening of dilute streams
- Classification in alluvial plants
Maintenance Schedule
Most premature failures in this equipment class trace back to a missed routine check rather than a design fault. The intervals below are a practical starting schedule; adjust them to your duty cycle and the manufacturer manual.
| Interval | Task |
|---|---|
| Every shift | Check inlet pressure; look at underflow (should be an umbrella, not a rope or a spray); inspect for leaks. |
| Weekly | Measure apex wear; a worn apex coarsens overflow and is the usual silent recovery loss. |
| Monthly | Inspect vortex finder and cone liners; check distributor valves on a cluster. |
| On wear | Replace apex, finder and liners as a matched set when the cut has drifted. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should hydrocyclone underflow look like?
A hollow umbrella or spray, not a solid rope and not a sloppy splash. A rope means the apex is too small or the feed is too dense — coarse material is backing up. A watery splash means the apex is worn open and fines are reporting to underflow, which recirculates and wastes mill power.
How does a cyclone set grind size?
Overflow is mill product. Smaller cyclones, smaller vortex finders and higher pressure all cut finer. The mill only grinds what the cyclone sends back. If overflow is coarser than target, fix the cyclone (pressure, apex, finder) before speeding up the mill or adding media.
One cyclone or a cluster?
One cyclone is fine on a small mill. Clusters let you take units offline for liner changes without stopping the mill, and they keep each cyclone in its efficient feed-pressure band as tonnage changes. Above about 20 t/h of mill feed, a small cluster is usually worth it.
Supply and Delivery Across Tanzania
Bart Mining supplies hydrocyclone and related equipment to mining operations throughout Tanzania, with primary coverage of the Lake Victoria Goldfields (Mwanza, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga and Bukombe), alongside the Lupa Goldfields around Chunya and Mbeya, and delivery nationwide from Dar es Salaam.
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