Desander is the second phase solids control equipment in the drilling mud system. It is mainly used to separate 46-76 μ m particles in drilling fluid. According to the clients’ demand of the treating  capacity, the desander can be configured with different numbers of hydrocyclone. Desander cones including 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12”. Most desander equipment are fit with 10” cones.

Drilling mud desander working principle

The desander is made of high anti-corrosive polyurethane or hi-chromium, affordable, high temperature resistant. The cyclone desander is based on the principle of centrifugal sedimentation and density difference, when the water from desander flow into the equipment under certain pressure, creating a strong rotation. Because of different content in fluids with different density, under the centrifugal force and centripetal force, fluid will produce different stress affect materials, the lighter material is discharged through the overflow tube and the heavier material is discharged along the conical cyclone tube wall from the bottom. In certain conditions and range, the greater water pressure the higher sand removal rate, it is also used in parallel connection.

Where is the centrifugal force from? For desander equipment, we use centrifugal pump to transfer drilling fluid from shaker tank to desander separator inlet. Under centrifugal pump push with pressure, the flow into cone result vortex move and centrifugal force.

The advantage of desander

1. Adopted high anti-corrosive polyurethane or hi-chromium ensures a long service life, compact structure, convenient to handle and install
2. Connection way is coupling. Easy to install and replace
3. Putting the materials into machine along the tangent line of the feed inlet, the transition is smooth and is in favour of improving separation efficiency. The range of separation size is large.
4. Large capacity, high efficiency and better performance
5. The symmetrical inlet structure makes the hydrocyclone allocation more reasonable and work more stable.
6. Competitive price high cost-effective

How to select a proper desander?

Drilling mud desander flow rate is flexibly to configure. Different size cone holding different capacity. For example, 8” desander cone capacity is about 40m³/h, while 10” cone is up to 90m³/h at least. So according to clients demand we can select different numbers and size hydrocyclone.

Besides desander cones, the bottom shaker may lead different final performance. Some clients prefer slide channel to bottom shaker, while some clients prefer standard bottom shaker to other design.

We suggest proper desander should hold capacity according to mud system flow rate. Then we configure desander cones and bottom shaker accordingly. Sometimes, there is mud cleaner instead of separated desander or desilter. The selection standard is similar.

For example, the necessary flow rate of mud system is 600GPM, we suggest desander with two 10” cones. This will be sufficient. And the centrifugal pump holding capacity 800GPM is proper for the desander

Do you have more question on drilling mud desander? Or you have demand? Please feel free to contact AIPU Solids for more information