Mud cleaners perform inefficient solids control in the solids control processes. This is primarily due to their unstable solids separation range, resulting in a less effective separation than drilling fluid shakers and centrifuges.In some cases, drilling fluid shakers and centrifuges can replace the mud cleaner’s treatment range.
The core components of the mud cleaner
Mud cleaners are located after the drilling fluid shaker and before the centrifuge in the solids control process. Their primary function is to remove smaller solid particles that remain in the drilling fluid after the shaker filters it. The core component of a mud cleaner is a hydrocyclone, a solid-liquid separation device designed based on the principle of centrifugal sedimentation. Its solids separation capacity depends on its structural parameters, feed pressure, and drilling fluid properties. A hydrocyclone’s solids removal curve is relatively flat, and even a small hydrocyclone struggles to completely remove large diameter solids. This is why hydrocyclones cannot replace Bohrspülungsschüttler and centrifuges.
hydrocyclone
The smaller the inner diameter of a hydrocyclone, the finer the solids particles it can separate. The hydrocyclone’s diameter, feed inlet size, feed pipe shape, flow pattern, overflow port size, overflow pipe insertion port, and underflow port size are all key factors influencing its operating characteristics. The hydrocyclone’s processing capacity is proportional to the square of its diameter, and the solids in the overflow also increase with increasing diameter. Furthermore, increasing the feed inlet size increases both the processing capacity and the size of the solids in the overflow. Inserting the overflow pipe too deep or too shallow increases the size of the solids in the overflow. Overly large or undersized underflow ports are both detrimental to underflow discharge. Currently, the processing capacity of desanders and desilters remains roughly the same both domestically and internationally, and the hydrocyclone’s diameter determines their solids separation capabilities.
However, mud cleaners perform an irreplaceable function: they can remove larger drilling fluid solids from the drilling fluid, even when the drilling fluid shaker is unavailable or not in use.
The components of the Schlammreiniger are: desander, desilter, and mud vibrating screen. The treatment of these three devices yields qualified mud. The desander and desilter primarily remove relatively small particles.
