Study on flow field characteristics of Non-Newtonian fluid in hydrocyclone

The method of Computational Fluid Dynamics was used to simulate the fluid field of the non-Newtonian fluid and the Newtonian fluid in the hydrocyclone.The Analysis was operated by reynolds stress model and obtained the velocity field,the pressure field as well as the apparent viscosity distribution of non-Newtonian fluid and the Newtonian fluid.The results revealed the Flow field Characteristics of the non-Newtonian fluids in the hydrocyclone:In the same position,with the effect of apparent viscosity changes of non-Newtonian fluid,the static pressure,the axial velocity as well as radial velocity of non-Newtonian fluid were bigger than Newtonian fluid's,and the radial velocity was less;The locus of zero vertical velocity of hydrocyclone of non-Newtonian was closer to the wall;these characteristics led to lower separation efficiency of non-Newtonian fluid than Newtonian fluid's under the same conditions. This study provided the evidence for new understand of the separation mechanism of non-Newtonian fluid.