Numerical simulation and experimental study of suspended particulate matter removal for efficient water recovery and reuse in solid–liquid separation

In the present study, an empirical investigation was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a hydrocyclone in separation processes, followed by its implementation within a biogas plant setting. The laboratory phase employed sawdust as a surrogate material to facilitate hydrocyclone testing, while biogas slurry served as the practical material for subsequent experimentation within the biogas plant. The separation efficiency was approximately 50% for particles in the 50-200-micron range. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using the Fluent module embedded within ANSYS, employing the Renormalization Group (RNG) k - ε turbulence model to numerically solve the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, thereby facilitating precise predictions of swirl-induced phenomena. However, a notable disparity between the numerical results and experimental data was observed. Further refinement and calibration of the numerical model are required to align it more closely with the acquired experimental insights. In conclusion, the study suggests that approximately 40% of wastewater can be reclaimed and reused using the evaluated method. The overall study demonstrates the potential of the hydrocyclone to improve the efficiency of separation processes within a biogas plant setting.