Page 101 - Shale Shakers Drilling Fluid Systems

84 SHALE SHAKERS AND DRILLING FLUID SYSTEMS

HYDROCYCLONES

For Drilling and Production
The high centrifugal sepa- a feed head of 75 feet ±. 5 feet. See Figure 3. They are
ration forces in a hydro- available unitized on skids and equipped with:
cyclone are created by the • Two quick-opening couplings on each cyclone overflow
feed stream entering tan- to permit quick internal inspection without removing the
gentially at a constant head cyclone from the header.
pressure as from a centrif- • A shelf-rest for each cyclone for easy one-man removal
ugal feed pump (See Figure and replacement in seconds.
2). A Picenco balanced-
design hydrocycione can be • Quick-connections and welding stub ends furnished MI
adjusted so clean liquid will all outlets, including solids trough discharge.
spiral toward the apex, re- • Complete connecting flexibility, (Point the overflow
verse axial directions, and header in the desired direction, enter the feed header
spiral to the overflow with from either end, and the solids trough is quickly reveni-
no loss of liquid at the un- ible to the proper direction.)
derflow.
Picenco Head Gauges ac-
If solids are present, they curately measure feed pres-
will be settled to the outside sure to centrifuge or cyclone.
wall in the down-spiraling Readings are in meters/
slurry specific gravity or feet
stream, and will discharge /pounds per gallon. Reflects
at the underflow by inertia changes immediately. Lower
when the liquid stream changes direction. The removed heads reduce throughput and
cause abrasion. Varying en-
solids take with them free liquid on their surfaces, gine speed or changing the
If the underflow opening is large enough to handle all the pump impeller diameter will
feed solids separating to the underflow, a balanced cy- affect the head pressure.
clone will operate in "spray discharge". See Figure 4. If
the feed solids separating to the underflow cannot pass
through the underflow opening, the solids discharge will
"rope", or "sausage discharge", indicating solids overload.
See Figure 5, Although a gallon of rope underflow will
weigh more, a spray discharge will remove more solids.
Picenco standard hydrocyclones are designed for easy
balancing with the largest possible underflow openings
per unit of feed rate to obtain the most removal capacity
per feed pump horsepower,
FOR DRILLING AND OTHER APPLICATIONS
WITH ATMOSPHERIC DISCHARGE
Picenco mud hydrocyclones are designed to operate with

FIGURE 3.
HEAD—DENSITY
PRESSURE
RELATION
Shaded area shows
recommended operat-
ing rang© for pioneer
hydrocyclones on drilt-
ing fluids