Impact of the Polarization Layer on the Hydrodynamics and Mechanical Performance of a Filtering Hydrocyclone Applied to Oily Water Separation

Abstract

The growing concern with the environment has driven the development of new technologies for the treatment of produced water. In this context, the filtering hydrocyclone appears as an interesting alternative for the treatment of these waters contaminated with oil from the petroleum industry. This research addresses the flow of fluids inside a hydrocyclone equipped with a porous wall (membrane) containing two tangential inlets and two concentric outlets, with the aim of study the impact of the formation of the polarization layer by concentration on the oily water separation process using CFD. Concentration fields and transmembrane pressure, concentration, and permeate flux profiles are presented and analyzed. The results show that the proposed filtering cyclonic separator concentrates the oil in the central region of the equipment, however, for high oil concentrations; the core expands and approaches the porous wall. Furthermore, the increase in the oil volume fraction causes a decline in the permeate flux, and an increase in feed velocity causes a decrease in the polarization layer.