Fluid Systems,

Incorporated
OWNERS MANUAL OM-SSR
Revised January 11, 1999

IMPORTANT: Read these instructions before

installing, operating, or servicing this equipment.

Specifications covered by this manual:

SSR
Model _____HIL-I4
Serial Number
Purchase Order Number
Sold to
Date
Manual Serial Number

DO NOT DESTROY

Fluid Systems, Inc. • Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037 USA

Manufacturers of Solids Control and Screening Equipment since 1979
January 1999
COPYRIGHT© Fluid Systems, Incorporated, 1999. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form
by any means without written permission of Fluid Systems, Inc.

If you are outside the US or Canada, please contact your local distributor or dealer.

If you purchased your equipment through a licensed agent, technical support may be
provided as part of your package. Contact Fluid Systems, Inc. in Belle Chasse, Louisiana
USA 504-393-1804 or fax comments to 504-393-7080 or e-mail to
service@fsishakers.com.

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1.0 RECEIVING .............................................................................................................. 4
2.0 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION .................................................................................. 4
3.0 SEPARATION PARAMETERS................................................................................ 5
3.1. DESILTER CONE DIAMETER............................................................................ 5
3.2 PLASTIC VISCOCITY.......................................................................................... 6
3.3 FEET OF HEAD .................................................................................................... 6
3.4 APEX DIAMETER................................................................................................ 6
4.0 MANIFOLD SIZING ................................................................................................. 6
HYDROCYCLONE OPERATING GUIDELINES........................................................... 7
6.0 MUD CLEANER OPTION........................................................................................ 8
7.0 INSTALLATION ....................................................................................................... 9
8.0 SSR DESILTING UNIT........................................................................................... 10
9.0 HYDROCYCLONE TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART.......................................... 10
10.0 HYDROCYCLONE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE......................................... 10
10.1 BEFORE INITIAL STARTUP: ....................................................................... 10
10.2 24 HOURS AFTER INITIAL STARTUP: .......................................................... 11
10.3 72 HOURS AFTER INITIAL STARTUP: .......................................................... 11
10.4 DAILY: ................................................................................................................ 11
10.5 WEEKLY ............................................................................................................. 11
10.6 MONTHLY .......................................................................................................... 11
10.7 SIX MONTHS...................................................................................................... 11

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1.0 RECEIVING

1.1 Upon receiving a Fluid Systems, Inc. Silt Solids Removal (SSR)
hydrocyclone Desilter header check the contents very carefully in case of
damage or loss of parts during shipment. If some damage or losses occur
please report them to Fluid Systems, Inc. at 504-393-1804 immediately.

1.2 If your unit is mounted over a shaker and is being used as a mud cleaner,
hold down brackets are provided to hold basket rigid, so that unit will not be
damaged during shipment. These brackets must be removed before starting
the shaker. (See appropriate shaker manual for shaker instructions).

1.3 All spare and optional parts purchased with the machine will be packaged
and shipped with the machine unless other written instructions are given to
Fluid Systems, Inc.

2.0 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

2.1 In operation of a hydrocyclone the feed, a mixture of liquids and solids,

enters the hydrocyclone under pressure tangentially at a high velocity
provided by pressure from a feed pump. Think of a tornado inside of a
bottle and you have a rudimentary idea of how a hydrocyclone operates.

2.2 Underflow (apex discharge): As feed enters the chamber, a rotation of the
fluid begins, causing centrifugal forces to act on particles that have
sufficient mass, moving them toward the outer wall of the hydrocyclone and
as more fluid enters the chamber, the particles migrate outward towards the
wall in a spiral pattern and at the same time being forced toward the bottom
of the cone by other feed slurry entering the cone under pressure. Larger
particles will settle preferentially and are discharged from the bottom of the
hydrocyclone by gradually working their way out through the apex orifice.
This product is termed the “underflow”, and since it must be discharged as a
fluid, contains an amount of feed fluid often referred to as “void filling”
material (see Figure 800-128-1 below). This excess fluid in the “underflow”
is what we screen when hydrocyclones are used as mud cleaners to reclaim
the liquid phase of the slurry. The under flow is normally discharged at
atmospheric pressure.

2.3 Overflow (cone overs): As the “underflow” particles are migrating

downward in a spiral pattern the smaller particles with less mass begin to
migrate toward the center of the hydrocyclone along with the bulk of the
liquid phase and spiral upwards and out through the vortex finder. (See
Figure 800-128-1 below). This fluid is better known as “clean mud.” The
overflow is normally discharged at atmospheric pressure.

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 Vortex
(Air Core)

Overflow Discharge

Feed
Inlet Vortex Finder

Hydrocyclone

Apex Discharge

Air Entry

Figure 800-128-1 Hydrocyclone Operating Principles

3.0 SEPARATION PARAMETERS

The Fluid Systems, Inc. “Desilter” is a unit made up of high volume 4”

Hydrocyclones. Fluid Systems, Inc measures the size of the hydrocyclone on the
inside diameter of the cylindrical feed chamber.

3.1. DESILTER CONE DIAMETER

3.1.1 Cone diameter is the main factor in determining cut points and
processing capacity. Fluid Systems, Inc. Desilter cone capacities are
listed below.

FSI CONE CAPACITIES @ 75 ft head

Item No Part No Description Qty Per Unit

1 SSR246HVA 4” High volume hydrocyclone N/A

3.1.2 Krebs High Volume 4” Desilting Hydrocyclone will process up to

110 GPM at 40-psi manifold pressure.

Desilters will normally make a 16-18 micron medium cut.

3.1.3 The quantity of solids removed from an unweighted system by a

hydrocyclone can be calculated as follows:

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 Lbs. solids removed per cone = 98 (W - 8.3) Ur

where: W = density of underflow, lb gal

Ur = Underflow rate, gal min

3.2 PLASTIC VISCOCITY

Hydrocyclone performance is extremely sensitive to the plastic viscosity of

the feed slurry. The hydrocyclone performance declines with increasing
plastic viscosity.

3.3 FEET OF HEAD

HEAD PRESSURE should not be confused with PSI. Fluid Systems, Inc.
recommends a pressure head of 75 feet at the entrance of the hydrocyclone.
The 75 feet is enough to produce a good cut point but not high enough to
cause rapid wear of the cones.

3.4 APEX DIAMETER

As the apex hole size is reduced, less solids and liquids will be discharged.
As the apex hole is enlarged, more solids and liquids are discharged. Most
4” SSR Desilter cones will be shipped with a 5/8” apex. Other sizes are
available.

3.4.1 A properly operating hydrocyclone should discharge liquids and

solids, have a hollow center and appear as a cone (see Figure 800-
128-1). A slight air vacuum drawing upwards from the apex into
the cone is a good indication of a properly operating hydrocyclone.

3.4.2 A wide cone spray indicates that the apex orifice is too large, the
slurry to dilute, and a smaller apex should be installed.

3.4.3 Should the cone spray be void of the hollow center and resemble a
“rope”, the apex is too small or the solids concentration is too high.
Under these conditions, some oversize materials will no doubt
report to the overflow (clean mud). To correct this problem, you
may need to go to a larger apex opening and allow the system time
to clean up. Your system may require additional hydrcoyclones
because of solids overloading.

4.0 MANIFOLD SIZING

For many years hydrocyclones have been used quite successfully in the
classification of solid particles contained in liquid streams. Whenever an engineer
is faced with a cyclone application, the question always arises as to what size and
how many are needed. In order to properly “clean” your slurry, the number and

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size of your hydrocyclones is important. Rule of thumb is to provide enough
hydrocyclones to process at least 110% of your circulation rate. Standard Fluid
Systems, Inc. desilting header manifolds are provided in banks of 1,2,4,8,10,16,18
or 24 hydrocyclones.

The number of hydrocyclones can be estimated with the formula below:

No. of cones required = Maximum Circulation rate x1.1

Single cone flow rate

HYDROCYCLONE OPERATING GUIDELINES

5.1 Size manifold and equipment large enough to handle 10% over the total
amount of the circulation rate (see item 4.0 above).

5.2 Hydrocyclone units should be used in “steps”. First through the desander
cones then the Desilter.

5.3 The overflows should be discharged to the compartment down stream from
the feed compartment.

5.4 Do not feed cones slurry with materials that are larger than the apex
openings. Consider adding a finer mesh screen to the Fluid Systems, Inc

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 shakers so as to remove as much material as possible before feeding the
hydrocyclone units.

5.5 Do not bypass the flow line shakers or operate it with torn screens.

5.6 Keep a working pressure gauge.

5.7 Avoid long feed/ discharge pipelines. Avoid installing elbows, valves etc.
in feed lines, which reduce Pressure to unit.

5.8 When discharging below bottom of hydrocyclone, add a “vent” pipe on the
return line in order to avoid “siphoning”

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6

Item No Part No Description Weight

1 SSR248HV 4 inlet head section 19lbs
2 SSR252UHV upper clamp 3 lbs.
3 SSR249HV center cone body 15 lbs.
4 SSR252LHV lower clamp 3 lbs.
5 SSR253HV apex bottom housing 5 lbs.
6 SSR247BHV apex stainless hose clamp 1 lbs.
7 SSR247HV apex insert (5/8” std) 3 lbs.

6.0 MUD CLEANER OPTION

6.1 A mud cleaner is a bank of hydrocyclones mounted over a vibrating screen.

Material from the apex underflow dumps over the vibrating screen making a
certain cut point. It is designed to recover most of the liquid phase as well a
some of the weighted material depending on the mesh size on the vibrating
screen. The solids removed over the screen are discarded.

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 6.2 Mud cleaners were designed to recover drilled solids to the size of barite (74
microns) in weighted mud systems.

6.3 In an unweighted mud system, all mud processed by a mud cleaner should
then be processed by a centrifuge.

6.4 Always use finer screens on a mud cleaner than on your shakers. Do not
attempt to use a mud cleaner as both a flow line shaker and a mud cleaner.

6.5 Desanding mud cleaners are able to handle more volumes on smaller
screening machines because the concentration of solids is larger and coarser
than a desilting mud cleaner.

6.6 A desilting mud cleaner requires more screening area than the desanding
mud cleaner.

7.0 INSTALLATION

7.1 If your machine is outfitted as a mud cleaner check the appropriate shaker
manual for installation instructions for that particular shaker.

7.2 Lift points have been welded on the frame or manifold area of the machine.

7.3 Make sure you have predetermined where your feed and discharge lines are
to travel. The shortest distance with the least amount of turns and valves in
the lines are preferred.

7.4 Level the skid/machine in both directions.

7.5 Cone unders discharge piping can be attached to the pipe nipple welded on
one end of the cone unders mud pan.

7.6 Each Fluid System, Inc. Hydrocyclone unit has a pressure gauge. Check
appropriate machine for proper pressure listed below.

7.7 Shale/dump slides should be installed to collect all material being

discharged.
7.8 Water lines should be installed to move product being discharged in the
cone unders pan. A valve should be installed to control the flow of water.

7.9 The cone overs return line should be lower than the slurry level to allow

7.10 A “vent” should be installed on the cone overs discharge line if line is
discharging below apex of cone to avoid “siphoning.”

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8.0 SSR DESILTING UNIT

The Fluid Systems, Inc. standard SSR units contain up to twenty-four (24)
hydrocyclones.

8.1 High Volume 4" U4B involute feed cyclone (part No. 246HV) rated @ 90-
110 GPM each. A hose clamp on the bottom discharge of the cyclone can
adjust each U4B involute feed cone. Make sure apex has not been washed
out if too much liquid is being discharged. Tighten the screw to lessen the
discharge of the cones and vice versa.

9.0 HYDROCYCLONE TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

TROUBLE CAUSE WHAT TO DO

No mud is discharged from
the Apex
Too much mud being
discharged from Apex
Roping effect
Cone discharge unsteady
Mud percent solids increase
High mud losses
• Plugged cone
• Siphoning
• Apex too small
• Not enough pressure or
worn out cone
• Apex to large
• Small Apex
• overloading cone
• Air or gas in feed line
• Insufficient cones/solids
control equipment
• Apex to large
• Cone worn out
• Un plug with welding
rod or disassemble cone
& clean
• Add “vent” line to cone
overs discharge pipe
• Replace with larger
Apex
• Check to see that cone is
not worn out; check
proper pressure
• Replace with smaller
apex
• Open apex/add more
cones
• Check shaker for torn
screens
• Pump grease in pump
packing/Replace pump
packing
• Add cones/Add solids
control equipment
• Replace with smaller
Apex
• Replace cone

10.0 HYDROCYCLONE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

10.1 BEFORE INITIAL STARTUP:

10.1.1 Check for damaged or missing cones.

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 10.1.3 Check that all victaulic clamps are tight

10.1.4 Make sure nothing is leaning on cones

10.1.5 Keep everyone clear at initial start up in case of cone blow out.

10.1.6 Check pressure on cones (see chart above)

10.2 24 HOURS AFTER INITIAL STARTUP:

Check pressure on cones (see chart above)

10.3 72 HOURS AFTER INITIAL STARTUP:

10.3.1 Check torque on each vibrator mounting bolt.

10.4 DAILY:

10.4.1 Check hydrocyclone for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.

10.4.4 Unclog cones if necessary.

10.5 WEEKLY

10.5.1 Check cones for wear or damage

10.5.2 Check pressure. (See chart above)

10.6 MONTHLY

10.6.1 Check deck rubbers for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.

10.6.2 Check skirt flap for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.

10.6.3 Check torque on vibrator mounting bolts

10.7 SIX MONTHS

10.7.1 Replace apex rubbers

10.7.2 Spot paint any worn areas on equipment.

10.7.3 Check wedges for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.

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