What is a Desilter Cyclone?
Desilter cyclone is a necessary third-phase solids control equipment for drilling mud treatment in the oil and gas industry. These machines are used to separate silt and other silt-sized particles from mud. The particles removed are typically in the 15-74 microns size range.
Overall, desilters help decrease the average particle size and eliminate abrasive particulate matter (grit) from the drilling fluids.
Principle
Cyclones help remove solid particles from fluids by using centrifugal force. During operation, solids fall outwards because they are heavier, while the fluid moves upwards through the pipeline. Meanwhile, particulate solids are eventually pushed downwards into an accelerating spiral.
Installation and setup
In terms of the sequence of installation, desilter cyclones come after shale shakers, degassers, and desanders – the other solid separation machines on an oil rig.
The diameters of the mud inlets and outlets are typically fixed at 2’’, making the desilter cyclone a conical device. The fixed inlet and outled diameters also give the desilter cyclone an easy-to-maintain clamp design. The drilling mud enters the desilter cyclone at the end with the maximum inner diameter.
Multiple desilter cyclones can be installed together in a desilter unit to maximize mud flow capacity and achieve high throughput. A good desilter cyclone design will allow the user to separately remove and inspect each individual cone from the desilter cyclone cone manifold.
Desilter cyclone variety
To ensure optimum functionality, the geometry and make of a desilter cyclone are crucial aspects to consider. Desilter cyclones come in various sizes, with inner diameters of 2’’, 4’’, 5’’ and 6’’. The most commonly used desilter cyclones in the oil and gas industry are the ones with the 4’’ and 5’’ inner diameters.
The cones of desilter cyclones are typically made of materials that offer a high wear resistance, such as polyurethane. Note that using a cone with a high volume can help minimize plugging of the equipment.
Further, desilter cyclones can be designed to reduce mud loss on an oil rig. Using cone apex inserts of different sizes, depending on the situation, can help reduce mud loss.
