Separation Performance of a Low-pressure Hydrocyclone for Suspended Solids in a Recirculating Aquaculture System

The separation performance of a low-pressure hydrocyclone (LPH) was evaluated for suspended-solids removal in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The dimensions of the LPH were 335 mm cylinder diameter, 575 mm cylinder height, 60 mm overflow diameter, 50 mm underflow diameter, and $68^{\circ}$ cone angle. The inflow rate varied (400, 600, 800, and 1,000 mL $s^{-1}$) with 25%, 25%, 20%, and 10% of bypass ($R_f$), respectively. The maximum total separation efficiency (Et) and reduced separation efficiency (E't) for suspended solids from the effluent of the second settlement tank (before biofiltration) were 58.9% and 45.2%, respectively, at an inflow rate of 600 mL $s^{-1}$ and 25% of $R_f$. The maximum Et and E't for suspended solids from the water supply channel (after biofiltration) were 24.4% and 16%, respectively, at an inflow rate of 1,000 mL $s^{-1}$ and 10% of $R_f$. The maximum grade efficiency (Ei) was 51.6% for a 300 ${\mu}m$ particle size at an inflow rate of 600 mL $s^{-1}$ with 23% of $R_f$. The maximum reduced grade efficiency (E'i) was 37.6% for a 300 ${\mu}m$ particle size at an inflow rate of 1,000 mL $s^{-1}$ with 11% of $R_f$. The results indicate that the separation performance of the LPH for suspended solids removal was size selective and that maximum removal occurred at particle sizes ranging from 300 to 500 ${\mu}m$.