Hydrocyclone separator

1. A hydrocyclone separator for classifying solid material in liquid suspension, comprising:

a head portion having an inlet conduit adapted to feed a suspension into the head portion;

an overflow discharge tube arranged in the head portion;

an apex discharge port;

a tapered separation portion arranged between the head portion and the apex discharge port, the tapered separation portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said tapered separation portion tapers towards said distal end;

a flow support portion provided at the tapered separation portion or between the tapered separation portion and the apex discharge port, said flow support portion comprising at least one flow support inlet configured to inject a fluid along at least a portion of an inner surface of the flow support portion in a direction at least partly towards the apex discharge port

wherein said hydrocyclone separator is configured to be oriented such that said apex discharge port is at a vertically elevated position relative to the overflow discharge tube.

2. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 1 , wherein said flow support portion comprises a plurality of flow support inlets configured to inject a fluid along at least a portion of an inner surface of the flow support portion in a direction towards the apex discharge port.

3. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of flow support inlets are arranged along a circumference of the flow support portion.

4. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 1 , wherein said flow support inlet(s) is/are arranged to inject liquid.

5. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 1 , wherein said flow support inlet(s) is/are arranged to inject gas.

6. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of flow support inlets are arranged to inject a fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion in a direction directly towards the apex discharge port.

7. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 1 , wherein said flow support inlet(s) is/are configured to inject a sheet of fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion, said sheet of fluid flowing in a direction at least partly towards the apex discharge port.

8. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of flow support inlets is configured to inject a plurality of streams of fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion, each stream of fluid flowing in a direction towards the apex discharge port.

9. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 1 , wherein each flow support inlet is oriented so to inject a fluid in a direction at least partly opposite to the direction of gravity, when said hydrocyclone separator is oriented such that said apex discharge port is at a vertically elevated position relative to the overflow discharge tube.

10. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one flow support inlet is arranged in the form of an annular slot arranged along a circumference of the flow support portion.

11. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one flow support inlet arranged in the form of an annular slot along a circumference of the flow support portion is configured to inject a sheet of fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion.

12. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 10 , wherein said annular slot is axially inclined.

13. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 10 , wherein said annular slot is defined by an outer wall of the flow support portion and an inner flange portion.

14. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 13 , wherein an inner surface of said inner flange portion is flush with an inner surface of the tapered separation portion.

15. The hydrocyclone separator according to claim 13 , wherein said inner surface of said inner flange portion is substantially cylindrical.

16. A system comprising a plurality of hydrocyclone separators according to claim 1 .

17. A method for classifying solid material in liquid suspension comprising:

providing a hydrocyclone separator comprising a head portion having an inlet conduit adapted to feed the liquid suspension into the head portion, an overflow discharge tube arranged in the head portion, an apex discharge port, a tapered separation portion arranged between the head portion and the apex discharge port, and a flow support portion provided between the tapered separation portion and the apex discharge port;

arranging the hydrocyclone separator in an orientation such that the apex discharge port is at a vertically elevated position relative to the overflow discharge tube;

feeding the liquid suspension into the inlet conduit such that a whirling stream of liquid suspension is formed in the hydrocyclone separator, said stream flowing in a spiral path towards the apex discharge port;

injecting a fluid along at least a portion of an inner surface of the flow support portion in a direction at least partly towards the apex discharge port.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the step of injecting a fluid comprises injecting a fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion in a direction transverse to said spiral path of the stream of liquid suspension and directly towards said apex discharge port.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the step of injecting a fluid further comprises injecting a fluid in a direction at least partly opposite to the direction of gravity.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the step of injecting a fluid further comprises forming a sheet of fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion, said sheet of fluid flowing in a direction towards the apex discharge port.

21. The method according to any claim 17 , wherein the step of injecting a fluid further comprises injecting multiple streams of fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion, each stream of fluid flowing in a direction towards the apex discharge port.

22. Flow support portion for arrangement at a tapered separation portion or between a tapered separation portion and an apex discharge port of a hydrocyclone separator for classifying solid material in liquid suspension, said flow supporting portion comprising at least one flow support inlet configured to inject a fluid along at least a portion of an inner surface of the flow support portion in a direction at least partly towards said apex discharge port, said at least one flow support inlet is arranged in the form of an annular slot arranged along a circumference of the flow support portion.

23. Flow support portion according to claim 22 , wherein said at least one flow support inlet arranged in the form of an annular slot along a circumference of the flow support portion is configured to inject a sheet of fluid along at least a portion of the inner surface of the flow support portion.

24. Flow support portion according to claim 22 , wherein said annular slot is axially inclined.

25. Flow support portion according to claim 22 , wherein said annular slot is defined by an outer wall of the flow support portion and an inner flange portion.

26. Flow support portion according to claim 25 , wherein an inner surface of said inner flange portion arranged to be flush with an inner surface of the tapered separation portion.

27. Flow support portion according to claim 25 , wherein said inner surface of said inner flange portion is substantially cylindrical.

28. Flow support portion according to claim 25 , wherein said inner surface of said inner flange is substantially cylindrical.