Separation of Rubber Particles from Natural Rubber Latex by Hydrocyclone Technique
Advancing the chemical engineering fundamentals
Particulate Systems (T2-3P)
Keywords: Feed Concentration, Rubber Particles, Separation Efficiency, Hydrocyclone
Karn Pana-Suppamassadu*
Department of Chemical Engineering,
King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology North Bangkok, BKK, Thailand
Sittipong Amnuaypanich
Department of Chemistry,
Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Abstract
In this research, the Reitema’s optimum design hydrocyclones with a diameter of 8 mm were used to separate rubber particles from latex by mean of induced centrifugal force field in order to increase a solid rubber content prior to processing. Key factors influencing the performance of hydrocyclone are feed concentration of rubber slurry and feed pressure. The separation efficiency of hydrocyclones has been reported to decrease with increase in feed concentration because the level of effective viscosity hindered settling and discharge [1]. However, from the tests conducted on brewing yeast [2], the peak efficiency occurred at 0.35% w. The influence of number of particles on the fluid velocities and so the induced force field becomes very important for solids fraction in feed higher than 10 – 15% w [3]. The present research also investigated the effect of feed concentration by mean of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), namely, the Finite Element Method (FEM). Dilute and dense flows were simulated according to a normal distribution analysis of particle number density with particle fluctuation velocity i.e., [4]. In the second phase, three identical hydrocyclones were rearranged in series in order to improve the separation performance. The corresponding flow physics, particle-wall and particle-particle interactions were studied by experiments and CFD simulations, and compared with the case of a single hydrocyclone.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: 062 913 2500 ext 8234.
E-mail address: karanp@kmitnb.ac.th; asitti@kku.ac.th
(Already requested for extension for KMITNB crews**)
1. Svarovsky, L. et al., Performance of Hydrocyclones at High Feed Solids Concentration, 1st Int. Conf. on Hydrocyclones, Cambridge, Oct. 1980, Pub. Hydrocyclones, 1980, pp. 127 – 142, BHRA, Cranfield.
2. Yuan, H., Martin, T.T., and David, R., Separation of Yeast with Hydrocyclones, Hydrocyclones ’96, 1996, pp. 135-149.
3. Devulapalli, B., and Rajamani, R.K., A Comprehensive CFD Model for Particle-Size Classification in Industrial Hydrocyclones, Hydrocyclones ’96, 1996, pp. 83-104.
4. Sommerfeld, M., Modellierung und numerische Berechnung von Partikelbeladenen turbulenten Stromung mit Hilfe des Euler/Lagrange Verfahrens, Habilitationsschrift, University of Erlangen-Nuernburg, Shaker-Verlag, Aachen, 1994.
See the full pdf manuscript of the abstract.
Presented Monday 17, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Particulate Systems (T2-3P).
