Hydrocyclone: Troubleshooting Guide

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
HYDROCYCLONE
This troubleshooting guide does not cover all possible situations, but does represent the most common problem areas, caus-
es, and recommended corrective actions to be taken when troubleshooting this equipment. Contact McLanahan Corporation
if addtional assistance is required.
1. SIPHON VACUUM BLEED VALVE OPEN TOO FAR

Corrective Action
a. Adjust Valve
2. OVERFLOW BOOT DAMAGED OR MISSING

Corrective Action
a. Replace Boot
3. OVERFLOW SIPHON PIPE TOO SHORT

Corrective Action
a. Install longer overflow pipe, should discharge to atmosphere 6’ below Apex
b. Overflow Siphon vacuum should suck onto hand
4. RESTRICTION BLOCKING OVERFLOW PIPE

Corrective Action
a. Make sure Overflow Pipe is clear
b. Eliminate horizontal length in Siphon Leg
c. Make sure there is no back-pressure in Overflow Line
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5. OBJECT INSIDE SEPARATOR

Corrective Action
a. Remove Apex and inspect Separator, remove any objects
6. UNDERFED-FEED PRESSURE LESS THAN 6 PSI FOR SMALLER SEPARA-

TORS, OR LESS THAN 7 PSI FOR LARGER ONES
Corrective Action
a. Check for worn Pump Impeller and replace if needed
b. Check if Motor speed is correct-An electrical fault can slow down motor
c. Increase feed volume by speeding up Pump (If Pump Motor allows)
d. Recirculate some/all of Cyclone Overflow back to Feed Sump to give additional dilution and allow for increased feed vol-
ume
e. Replace Separator with smaller unit
7. FEED SUMP LEVEL TOO LOW-PUMP IS SUCKING AIR (SUMP LEV-

EL MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 3’ ABOVE SUCTION)
Corrective Action
a. Increase Make-up Water to Sump, or recirculate some/all of the Cyclone Overflow back to the Feed Sump to give addition-
al dilution
b. Slow down Pump (check feed pressure first)
8. ENTRAINED AIR IN PUMP SUCTION

Corrective Action
a. Make sure pipes discharging into Feed Sump do not carry entrained air to the Suction
a. Install baffle plates if needed
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9. VACUUM LEAKS IN OVERFLOW PIPE

Corrective Action
a. Check and seal leaks (Use Silicone Caulk)
10. VACUUM LEAKS IN SIPHON BLEED VALVE LINE

Corrective Action
a. Check and seal leaks (Use Silicone Caulk)
11. HOLED OR DAMAGED UNDERFLOW REGULATOR

Corrective Action
a. Replace Regulator
12. LOOSE OR DAMAGED LINING

Corrective Action
a. Inspect inside of Separator visually and by “plucking”
a. Replace damaged Lining
13. WORN APEX

Corrective Action
a. Replace Apex if the I.D. has worn by more than 1/2”
14. FEED SUMP LEVEL FLUCTUATING, OR TOO LOW

Corrective Action
a. Increase Make-Up Water to Sump, or recirculate some/all of the Cyclone Overflow back to the Feed Sump to give addition-
al dilution
b. Slow down Pump (Check feed pressure first)
c. Replace Vortex Finder with a smaller diameter one
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15. ENTRAINED AIR IN PUMP SUCTION

Corrective Action
a. Make sure pipes discharging into Feed Sump do not carry entrained air to the Suction
b. Install baffle plates if needed
16. SOLIDS BUILDING UP AND SLUMPING IN FEED SUMP

Corrective Action
a. Check Sump design-Sump floor must slope towards Suction
b. Install a Water Spray, or position infeed to “swirl” to prevent build-up
17. V-BELTS SLIPPING-CAUSING PUMP SURGES

Corrective Action
a. Adjust V-Belts and change if needed

Corrective Action
a. Remove Apex and inspect inside Separator
b. Remove any objects
19. BORDERLINE UNDERFED-FEED PRESSURE LESS THAN 7 PSI
Corrective Action
a. Check for worn Pump Impeller and replace if needed
b. Increase feed volume by speeding up Pump (If Motor allows)
c. Recirculate some/all of the Cyclone Overflow back to the Feed Sump to give additional dilution and allow for increased
feed volume
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20. EXCESSIVE SOLIDS IN FEED

Corrective Action
a. Increase dilution
b. Increase feed volume by speeding up Pump (If Pump Motor allows)
feed volume
21. SIPHON BLEED VALVE TOO FAR CLOSED

Corrective Action
a. Adjust Valve
22. OVERFLOW SIPHON PIPE TOO LONG

Corrective Action
a. Shorten Overflow Pipe-It should discharge to atmosphere 6’ below Apex

Corrective Action
a. Increase dilution
b. Increase feed volume by speeding up Pump (If Pump Motor allows)
feed volume
24. LOOSE OR DAMAGED LINING

Corrective Action
a. Inspect inside of Separator visually and by “plucking”
b. Replace damaged Lining
mclanahan.com

Corrective Action
a. Remove Apex and inspect inside Separator
b. Remove and objects

Corrective Action
a. Decrease solid feed
b. Increase dilution
c. Increase feed volume by speeding up Pump (If Pump Motor allows)
d. Recirculate some/all of the Cyclone Overflow back to the Feed Sump to give additional dilution and allow for increased
feed volume
27. DILUTE UNDERFLOW

Corrective Action
a. Decrease diameter of Apex
28. INSUFFICIENT MOISTURE IN UNDERFLOW (“ROPE” DISCHARGE)

Corrective Action
a. Increase diameter of Apex
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29. TOO COARSE A SEPARATION (COARSER PARTICLES THAN DESIRED IN OVER-

FLOW)
Corrective Action
a. Decrease diameter of Vortex
b. Increase dilution of feed material
c. Operate fewer Cyclones, which will increase feed pressure
NOTE: The above changes may result in more solids at the Apex, and the Apex diameter needing to be increased slightly
30. TOO FINE A SEPARATION (TOO MANY FINES IN OVERFLOW)

Corrective Action
a. Increase diameter of Vortex
b. Decrease dilution of feed material
c. Operate more Cyclones, which will decrease feed pressure
NOTE: The above changes may result in fewer solids at the Apex, and the Apex diameter needing to be decreased slightly

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TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

1. SIPHON VACUUM BLEED VALVE OPEN TOO FAR

2. OVERFLOW BOOT DAMAGED OR MISSING

3. OVERFLOW SIPHON PIPE TOO SHORT

4. RESTRICTION BLOCKING OVERFLOW PIPE

5. OBJECT INSIDE SEPARATOR

6. UNDERFED-FEED PRESSURE LESS THAN 6 PSI FOR SMALLER SEPARA-

7. FEED SUMP LEVEL TOO LOW-PUMP IS SUCKING AIR (SUMP LEV-

8. ENTRAINED AIR IN PUMP SUCTION

9. VACUUM LEAKS IN OVERFLOW PIPE

10. VACUUM LEAKS IN SIPHON BLEED VALVE LINE

11. HOLED OR DAMAGED UNDERFLOW REGULATOR

12. LOOSE OR DAMAGED LINING

13. WORN APEX

14. FEED SUMP LEVEL FLUCTUATING, OR TOO LOW

15. ENTRAINED AIR IN PUMP SUCTION

16. SOLIDS BUILDING UP AND SLUMPING IN FEED SUMP

17. V-BELTS SLIPPING-CAUSING PUMP SURGES

18. OBJECT INSIDE SEPARATOR

19. BORDERLINE UNDERFED-FEED PRESSURE LESS THAN 7 PSI

20. EXCESSIVE SOLIDS IN FEED

21. SIPHON BLEED VALVE TOO FAR CLOSED

22. OVERFLOW SIPHON PIPE TOO LONG

23. EXCESSIVE SOLIDS IN FEED

24. LOOSE OR DAMAGED LINING

25. OBJECT INSIDE SEPARATOR

26. EXCESSIVE SOLIDS IN FEED

27. DILUTE UNDERFLOW

28. INSUFFICIENT MOISTURE IN UNDERFLOW (“ROPE” DISCHARGE)

29. TOO COARSE A SEPARATION (COARSER PARTICLES THAN DESIRED IN OVER-

30. TOO FINE A SEPARATION (TOO MANY FINES IN OVERFLOW)

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