Apparatus is provided including a signal processor or signal processing module configured at least to: respond to signaling containing information about particle sizes of solids forming part of a slurry stream being fed with a common feed flow into a battery of cyclones; and determine which combinations of cyclones in the battery produce overflow that has undesirable particle size characteristics using a statistical algorithm or technique, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or signal processing module provides corresponding signaling containing about which combinations of cyclones in the battery produce overflow that has undesirable particle size characteristics, including control signaling to control the operation of the battery, including information about certain combinations of cyclones to avoid, or preferentially to use, to minimize the total amount of coarse material having the undesirable particle size characteristics produced by the battery.

A new and improved hydrocyclone roping and wear management system and method for its use are provided. The system includes one or more wireless electronic roping sensors and/or one or more wireless electronic wear sensors disposed in communication with one or more hydrocyclones, along with a wireless electronic controller. The system is capable of wirelessly detecting roping and/or wear conditions within one or more hydrocyclone separators during their operation, communicating electronic data corresponding to the roping and/or wear conditions to an associated hydrocyclone control system, and causing adjustments in controlling operational parameters for the hydrocyclones. The associated method includes steps for wirelessly acquiring roping and/or wear condition data using the wireless electronic controller and delivering the data to the hydrocyclone control system. The system and method provide for improved roping detection and wear maintenance scheduling, and improved adjustment of undesirable roping and wear conditions.

A new and improved hydrocyclone roping and wear management system and method for its use are provided. The system includes one or more wireless electronic roping sensors and/or one or more wireless electronic wear sensors disposed in communication with one or more hydrocyclones, along with a wireless electronic controller. The system is capable of wirelessly detecting roping and/or wear conditions within one or more hydrocyclone separators during their operation, communicating electronic data corresponding to the roping and/or wear conditions to an associated hydrocyclone control system, and causing adjustments in controlling operational parameters for the hydrocyclones. The associated method includes steps for wirelessly acquiring roping and/or wear condition data using the wireless electronic controller and delivering the data to the hydrocyclone control system. The system and method provide for improved roping detection and wear maintenance scheduling, and improved adjustment of undesirable roping and wear conditions.

A desanding wellhead includes a wellhead device in communication with a well and configured to receive a mixed fluid produced therefrom, and a sand separation device coupled to the wellhead device. The sand separation device is configured to receive fluid from the well via the wellhead device, separate at least some solids from the fluid, and provide at least some of the fluid back to the wellhead device.

A desanding wellhead includes a wellhead device in communication with a well and configured to receive a mixed fluid produced therefrom, and a sand separation device coupled to the wellhead device. The sand separation device is configured to receive fluid from the well via the wellhead device, separate at least some solids from the fluid, and provide at least some of the fluid back to the wellhead device.

A two-stage particulate separator, comprising: a primary cyclone; a plurality of secondary cyclones circumferentially spaced around the primary cyclone; each of the cyclones having an inlet at an upper end thereof and an outlet at a lower end thereof, the inlets of the secondary cyclones are in communication with the primary cyclone; and an airlock coupled to the outlet of each of the cyclones.

A method for producing material powder, comprising providing material and an atomization gas charged with an atomization gas pressure by means of an atomization gas compressor to an atomization device, melting the material and pulverizing the molten material into material powder by means of charging the molten material with the atomization gas using the atomization device, introducing the material powder from the atomization device into a pressurized container and providing a conveyor gas charged with a conveyer gas pressure by means of a conveyer gas compressor to the pressurized container, wherein the conveyor gas pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the atomization gas pressure, as well as a device for carrying out the method.

A cyclone (4) for separation of solids and gases comprising a predefined circumference and at least one inlet (42a), for supplying a mixed stream of powder and air/gas, a first outlet in the form of a powder outlet (43) at the bottom of the cyclone (4) for extracting powder, a vortex finder (45) at the top of the cyclone, said vortex finder (45) further comprising a wall (50) and a second outlet in the form of an air/gas outlet (44) for extracting air/gas, characterized in that said cyclone (4) comprises a secondary powder extraction system (46) including a third outlet (48a), located in or at the vortex finder (45) to extract powder particles from the mixed stream entering the vortex finder (45).

A cyclone (4) for separation of solids and gases comprising a predefined circumference and at least one inlet (42a), for supplying a mixed stream of powder and air/gas, a first outlet in the form of a powder outlet (43) at the bottom of the cyclone (4) for extracting powder, a vortex finder (45) at the top of the cyclone, said vortex finder (45) further comprising a wall (50) and a second outlet in the form of an air/gas outlet (44) for extracting air/gas, characterized in that said cyclone (4) comprises a secondary powder extraction system (46) including a third outlet (48a), located in or at the vortex finder (45) to extract powder particles from the mixed stream entering the vortex finder (45).

A hydrocyclone separator and a method for classifying solid material in liquid suspension are presented. The hydrocyclone separator comprises a head portion having an inlet conduit and an overflow discharge tube arranged in the head portion. The hydrocyclone separator further has an apex discharge port and a tapered separation portion arranged between the head portion and the apex discharge port. The tapered separation portion is tapering distally away from the head portion. Moreover, the hydrocyclone separator has a flow support portion with 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 towards the apex discharge port, when the hydrocyclone separator is oriented such that the apex discharge port is at a vertically elevated position relative to the overflow discharge tube. Hereby, a hydrocyclone separator capable of achieving improved operational efficiency with reduced risk of clogging the apex discharge port is presented.