Hydrocyclones

Abstract

A hydrocyclone 10 for separating fluid into a plurality of streams, comprising: a main body having a separation chamber 16 to deliver a first fluid stream to an upper outlet 28 and a second stream to

Description

Technical Field The present invention generally relates to hydrocyclones and more particularly, but not exclusively, to hydrocyclones suitable for use in the mineral and chemical processing industries. The invention is also concerned with systems and methods for determining and measuring internal surface configuration and / or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone at predefined locations. Background Hydrocyclones are commonly used for separating suspended matter carried in a liquid into multiple discharge streams or “phases” of different densities. In the mining industry, for example, hydrocyclones may be used to separate particulates that are located in a slurry into a heavier (“coarser”) solid phase and a lighter (“finer”) solid phase, for classification purposes. A slurry is a two-phase mixture (a liquid with solid particles suspended or otherwise located therein). During normal, stable operation of a hydrocyclone, fluid in the form of a slurry enters through an upper inlet of a hydrocyclone separation chamber in the form of an inverted cone, with the heavier solid phase discharged through a lower underflow outlet (also known as the spigot or apex) into an underflow tank and the lighter solid phase being discharged through an upper overflow outlet. As the coarse particles rotate and fall toward the spigot, the density thereof increases and the abrasion caused thereby increases. Since the primary function of the spigot is to discharge the coarse material at the highest possible density, and since the amount of water leaving the cyclone with the coarse material is critical, the proper spigot diameter for a particular cyclone and set of operating conditions also is critical. If the spigot is too large due to wear, excessive amounts of water will pass out of the lower outlet of the cyclone. Such excessive amounts of water passing through the cyclone underflow outlet pull a high amount of fine particles that should otherwise be discharged through the upper outlet. The fine particles then unnecessarily pass back through the grinding mill, resulting in an inefficient milling operation. The spigot is typically a cylindrical and / or conical body section with a liner which can be composed of loose ceramic, neoprene, urethane, or rubber, depending upon the abrasion and corrosion resistant properties needed for the material passing through the spigot. The primary function of the spigot is to discharge the coarse material at as high a density as possible without plugging the apex. As the spigot and the spigot liner are prone to the highest wear it should be checked regularly to confirm the internal diameter is within acceptable ranges. To measure the internal 2 diameter of the spigot, a gauge of the correct dimension can be inserted into the spigot through the underflow outlet. As the underflow outlet is located above the underflow tank a service engineer is required to enter inside the underflow tank during a plant stop to insert the gauge and measure the internal diameter of the spigot. This however increases risk to the service engineers and requires the classification line which the hydrocyclone forms part of to be stopped. Approaches to reduce the need to measure the internal diameter of the spigot is to replace the spigot at scheduled intervals irrespective of the actual internal diameter. This may however lead to working parts being replaced too soon which increases operational cost or not replacing a worn spigot soon enough which may have a serious impact on downstream processes, often requiring additional processing (which, as will be appreciated, can greatly impact profits) and also result in accelerated machinery wear in the downstream processes. It is an object of the invention to provide means which the Inventors believe will at least ameliorate this problem or other problems with the prior art, or provide a useful alternative. Summary of Disclosure According to a first aspect, there is provided a hydrocyclone for separating a fluid into a plurality of streams, the hydrocyclone comprising: a main body having a separation chamber therein, the separation chamber having an inlet for receiving the fluid, an upper outlet and a lower outlet, the separation chamber in communication with the inlet, upper outlet, and lower outlet to deliver a first fluid stream to the upper outlet, and a second stream to the lower outlet, the lower outlet defined by a spigot attached to a lower end of the main body with the separation chamber and spigot generally coaxially aligned to define a central longitudinal axis; and an image sensor support secured to an upper portion of the hydrocyclone, the image sensor support having a mounting zone to which an image sensor can be mounted so that the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot when the image sensor captures image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone. The image sensor may define a central focus axis which extends generally transversely through a lens of the image sensor. The image sensor support and mounting zone may be arranged so that the central focus axis of the image sensor is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis when the image sensor captures image data. Optionally the image sensor support and mounting zone may be arranged so that the central focus axis of the image sensor is angled relative to the longitudinal axis at an angle between 0.1 and 20 degrees when the image sensor captures image data. The image sensor support may be removably secured to the upper portion of the hydrocyclone allowing the image sensor support to be removed when the hydrocyclone is in 3 operation. When image data is required the hydrocyclone may be turned off and the image sensor support may be re-installed. The image sensor support may include a screen located proximate to the mounting zone. The screen may be displaceable between a first position wherein at least the mounting zone is isolated from the remainder of the hydrocyclone so that the image sensor support does not come into contact with the fluid in the hydrocyclone and a second position wherein the screen is moved away from the mounting zone allowing the image sensor to capture image data. Alternatively, the image sensor support and / or the mounting zone may be displaceable relative to the upper portion of the hydrocyclone between a first position wherein the mounting zone is positioned so that the mounting zone and image sensor are not exposed to the fluid and a second position when the hydrocyclone is turned off wherein the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot to capture image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone. The image sensor support may include a displaceable support member, on which the mounting zone is located, which is rotatably displaced within the image sensor support between the first position wherein the mounting zone is orientated away from the spigot and the second position wherein the mounting zone is orientated towards the spigot. The displaceable support member may include sealing means positioned around an outer periphery which creates a fluid tight seal between a sidewall of the image sensor support and the disc. The image sensor support may include a drive mechanism connected to the displaceable support member to displace it between the first and second positions. The separation chamber may define a sidewall having a generally circular cylindrical upper portion, and a frusto-conical lower portion which tapers away from the upper portion. The inlet may be configured to feed the fluid into the separation chamber at or close to the upper portion thereof generally tangentially to create a swirling flow of the fluid in the separation chamber. The hydrocyclone may include an overflow outlet control chamber (also known as an air-core booster) which is mounted generally coaxially with the separation chamber and the spigot. The overflow outlet control chamber is located at an upper portion of the separation chamber and is in communication therewith via the upper outlet. The overflow outlet control chamber includes a tangentially located overflow discharge outlet. The image sensor support may be mounted on an upper portion of the overflow outlet control chamber. The image sensor support may include an annular mounting flange which is secured to the overflow outlet control chamber via a plurality of suitable fasteners such as bolts. The support bracket may further comprise an upper portion which is raised relative to the 4 annular mounting flange and sidewalls extending between the mounting flange and the upper surface. The sidewalls may be tapered such that the supporting bracket has a generally frusto-conical shape. Alternatively, the sidewall may be substantially cylindrical. The mounting zone may be located on the upper portion. The image sensor support may include a screen positioned within the image sensor operatively below the image sensor and be displaceable between a first position wherein at least the mounting zone is isolated from the remainder of the hydrocyclone so that the image sensor support does not come into contact with the fluid in the hydrocyclone and a second position wherein the screen is moved away from the mounting zone allowing the image sensor to capture image data. Alternatively, the image sensor support may include the displaceable support member positioned within the image sensor support on which the mounting zone is located. The mounting zone may define a mounting formation which is complementary to a mounting formation on the image sensor such as a bayonet fitting or a screw thread fitting. Optionally, the mounting formation may be configured to receive the image sensor such that the image sensor is housed in the mounting formation. Optionally, the mounting zone may include a plurality of openings so that the image sensor can be secured to the mounting zone with a plurality of suitable fasteners. According to a second aspect, there is provided a hydrocyclone system for measuring an internal surface configuration or internal diameter of a hydrocyclone, the system comprising; a hydrocyclone having a main body which comprises a separation chamber therein, the separation chamber having an inlet for receiving the fluid, an upper outlet, and a lower outlet, the separation chamber in communication with the inlet, upper outlet, and lower outlet to deliver a first fluid stream to the upper outlet and a second stream to the lower outlet, the lower outlet defined by a spigot attached to a lower end of the main body with the separation chamber and spigot generally coaxially aligned to define a central longitudinal axis; and an image sensor assembly secured to an upper portion of the hydrocyclone, the image sensor assembly comprising a sensor support and an image sensor with the sensor support having a mounting zone to which the image sensor is mounted so that the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot when the image sensor captures image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone; and a controller in communication with the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor, the controller arranged to calculate the internal diameter of the hydrocyclone at predetermined locations. The hydrocyclone may comprise a generally cylindrical upper chamber at an upper end thereof, a vortex finder mounted on an upper surface of the cylindrical chamber and extending therein, and a generally frusto-conical shaped separation chamber extending from a lower 5 surface of the cylindrical chamber to an underflow outlet at which a spigot is mounted. The inlet may be configured to feed the fluid into the separation chamber at or close to the upper portion thereof generally tangentially to create a swirling flow of the fluid in the separation chamber. The sensor assembly and controller may preferably be arranged to capture image data relating to the spigot and / or spigot liner and calculate the internal diameter of the spigot and / or spigot liner from the image data. Alternatively or in addition, the sensor assembly and controller may be arranged to capture image data of the vortex finder and calculate the internal diameter of the vortex finder from the image data. The image sensor may define a central focus axis which extends generally transversely through a lens of the image sensor. The image sensor support and mounting zone may be arranged so that the central focus axis of the image sensor is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis when the image sensor captures image data. Optionally the image sensor support and mounting zone may be arranged so that the central focus axis of the image sensor is angled relative to the longitudinal axis at an angle of between 0.1 and 20 degrees when the image sensor captures image data. The hydrocyclone may include an overflow outlet control chamber (also known as an air-core booster) which is mounted generally coaxially with the separation chamber and the spigot. The overflow outlet control chamber is located at an upper portion of the separation chamber and is in communication therewith via the upper outlet. The overflow outlet control chamber includes a tangentially located overflow discharge outlet. The image sensor support may be mounted on an upper portion of the overflow outlet control chamber. The image sensor support may include an annular mounting flange which is secured to the overflow outlet control chamber via a plurality of suitable fasteners such as bolts. The support bracket may further comprise an upper portion which is raised relative to the annular mounting flange and sidewalls extending between the mounting flange and the upper surface. The sidewalls may be tapered such that the supporting bracket has a generally frusto-conical shape. The mounting zone may be located on the upper portion to which the image sensor may be coupled. The mounting zone may define a mounting formation which is complementary to a mounting formation on the image sensor such as a bayonet fitting or a screw thread fitting. Optionally, the mounting formation may be configured to removably receive the image sensor such that the image sensor is housed in the mounting formation. Optionally, the mounting zone may include a plurality of openings so that the image sensor can be secured to the mounting zone with a plurality of suitable fasteners. The image sensor assembly may be removably secured to the upper portion of the hydrocyclone allowing the image sensor support to be removed when the hydrocyclone is in operation. When image data is required the hydrocyclone may be turned off and the image sensor assembly may be re-installed. The image sensor assembly may include a screen located proximate to the mounting zone. The screen may be displaceable between a first position wherein at least the mounting zone is isolated from the remainder of the hydrocyclone so that the image sensor assembly does not come into contact with the fluid in the hydrocyclone and a second position wherein the screen is moved away from the mounting zone allowing the image sensor to capture image data. Alternatively, at least a portion of the image sensor assembly may be displaceable relative to the upper portion of the hydrocyclone between a first position wherein the image sensor is positioned so that it is not exposed to the fluid when the hydrocyclone is in operation and a second position when the hydrocyclone is turned off wherein the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot to captures image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone. The controller may include an input interface for coupling to the image sensor, one or more processors for implementing various analytical functions, non-volatile storage and a user interface. The input interface may be arranged to couple to the image sensor either via a sensor cable or wirelessly. The user interface may comprise an LCD screen although other configurations are possible. The controller may be arranged to receive the image data, in the form of two-dimensional images of the spigot, spigot liner and / or vortex finder and calculate the internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner and / or vortex finder. The controller may be arranged to display the calculated internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner and / or vortex finder via the user interface. The controller may be arranged to calculate the internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner and / or vortex finder based on the data analysis of the image data and initial references with a known diameter. The initial references against which the data analysis is done may be based on data captured at a prior point and which is stored in the non-volatile storage. The image sensor assembly may further include at least one light source secured to the sensor support adjacent to the image sensor. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one light source may be integrated with the image sensor. Preferably, the system may be arranged to measure the internal diameter of the spigot and / or spigot liner as the spigot and spigot liner is prone to the highest wear and the internal 7 diameter should be measured to ensure the internal diameter is within predefined limits. The system may furthermore be arranged to measure the internal diameter of the vortex finder. According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of measuring the internal diameter of a hydrocyclone, the method comprising: obtaining image data from an image sensor associated with the hydrocyclone which relates to internal surface configuration or the internal diameter of the hydrocyclone; calculating the internal diameter of the hydrocyclone at predefined locations based on the image data. The method may preferably determine the internal diameter of the spigot and / or spigot liner of the hydrocyclone. Alternatively or in addition, the method may determine the diameter of the vortex finder. The method may include a prior step of configuring the image sensor based on a distance between the image sensor and the spigot, spigot liner, and / or vortex finder of the hydrocyclone. The method may further include the step of obtaining reference image data of a spigot, spigot liner, and / or vortex finder wherein the internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner, and / or vortex finder is known and conducting data analysis using the reference image data and the obtained image data to calculate the internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner, and / or vortex finder. The method may include the prior step of shutting down the hydrocyclone before image data which relates to the internal surface configuration or the internal diameter of the hydrocyclone can be obtained. Where the image sensor is removably secured to the hydrocyclone the method may include the step of installing the image in an operative upper part of the hydrocyclone. Where the hydrocyclone includes an image sensor assembly wherein the image sensor is displaceable the method may include the step of displacing the image sensor from a first position wherein the image sensor is isolated from the remainder of the hydrocyclone to a second position wherein the image sensor is able to capture image data. Brief Description of Figures These and other aspects will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hydrocyclone according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a simplified cross section view of part of the hydrocyclone of Fig. 1 showing features thereof in more detail: Detailed Description Reference is now made to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, which is a schematic view of a hydrocyclone 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is to be noted that even though only a single hydrocyclone 10 is shown in the Figures the hydrocyclone 10 may form part of a larger hydrocyclone system (also known as a hydrocyclone cluster) which comprises a plurality of hydrocyclones 10 according to the present invention. The hydrocyclone 10 comprises a generally cylindrical upper chamber 12 at an upper end thereof, an overflow cap 14 (also referred to as a vortex finder) mounted on an upper surface of the cylindrical chamber 12 and extending therein, and a generally frusto-conical shaped separation chamber 16 extending from a lower surface of the cylindrical chamber 12 to an underflow outlet at which a spigot 18 is mounted. The upper chamber 12, vortex finder 14, separation chamber 16, and spigot 18, are mounted generally coaxially such that they define a longitudinal axis 20, also referred to as a central axis or a fluid transport axis. A feed inlet 22 is provided generally tangential to the longitudinal axis 20 and extending from the cylindrical chamber 12. An overflow outlet 24 comprises an aperture defined by the vortex finder 14 at an upper end of the cylindrical chamber 12. In the illustrated example, the hydrocyclone 10 includes an overflow outlet control chamber also known as an air core booster 26. Hydrocyclones with air core boosters produce improvements in capacity and cyclone efficiency by reducing the total pressure across the hydrocyclone, increasing the volume flow split to the overflow outlet. An air ore booster allows the use of a larger spigot for a given bypass of water to the underflow, which produces a more stable, larger diameter air core, increasing capacity and reducing the bypass of fines. Air core boosters also reduce the chances of operating the hydrocyclone under roping conditions. The air core booster 16 is mounted generally coaxially with the upper chamber 12 and is in communication with the upper chamber 12 and the separation chamber 14 via the overflow outlet 24. The air core booster 26 further includes a tangentially located discharge outlet 28 and an upper opening 30 which is remote from the overflow outlet 24. The upper opening 30, overflow outlet 24, and underflow outlet 18 are generally axially aligned. The air core booster 26 has an inner surface 32 which is generally in the shape of a volute for directing material entering the air core booster 26 from the separation chamber 16 via the overflow outlet 24 towards the discharge outlet 28. The feed inlet 22 is configured to allow slurry (liquid containing suspended matter) to be pumped through the upper chamber 12 and into the separation chamber 18 to create one or more vortices therein and to create an air core to effect separation of the slurry into large 9 particles reporting to the underflow outlet 18 and small particles reporting to the overflow outlet 24 and outward via the discharge outlet 28. An overflow pipe (not shown) which is connected to discharge outlet 28 may lead to a tank (not shown) for accumulating fine particulate slurry for use in ore extraction (for example, via flotation). A centrifugal pump 34 is used to pump the slurry received on an input hose (or pipe) 36 which feeds the feed inlet 22 of the hydrocyclone 10. Where the hydrocyclone 10 forms part of a hydrocyclone cluster the centrifugal pump 34 is used to pump the slurry received on an input 36 hose into a distributor 38 that separates the slurry into a plurality of different hoses 40 with each distributor hose feeding a hydrocyclone inlet 22. The centrifugal pump is driven by a motor (not shown for clarity) controlled by a conventional variable frequency drive (VFD) controller. Although not shown in detail in the figures, the spigot 18 comprises a spigot holder, having a cylindrical and / or conical body which is secured to a lower portion of the separation chamber 16, and a replaceable spigot liner housed within the spigot holder. The spigot liner can be composed of loose ceramic, neoprene, urethane, or rubber, depending upon the abrasion and corrosion resistant properties needed for the material passing through the spigot. To monitor the internal diameter of the spigot and / or spigot liner 18 the hydrocyclone includes an image sensor assembly shown more clearly in Fig. 2 which is a simplified cross section view of part of the hydrocyclone, more specifically the air core booster 26, showing addition features of the image sensor assembly in more detail. The image sensor assembly includes a sensor support bracket 42 which supports an image sensor 44 that is arranged to capture image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone. The image sensor may be arranged to capture image data relating to the spigot and / or spigot liner 18 to calculate the internal diameter of the spigot and / or spigot liner 18 from the image data. Alternatively or in addition, the image sensor may be arranged to capture image data of the vortex finder 14 to calculate the internal diameter of the vortex finder from the image data. The sensor support bracket 42 is secured to the upper portion of the air core booster 26 with the image sensor 44 arranged on the sensor support bracket 42 so that the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot 18. In the illustrated example the sensor support bracket 42 includes an annular mounting flange 46 which is secured to a flange 47 of the air core booster via a plurality of bolts 49. The support bracket 42 further includes an upper portion 48 which is raised relative to the annular mounting flange 46, and sidewalls 50 extending between the mounting flange 46 and the upper surface 48. In the illustrated example, the sidewalls 50 are tapered such that the supporting bracket 42 has a general frusto-conical shape but other configurations are possible wherein the sidewall 50 are substantially cylindrical. The sensor support bracket 42 defines a generally central mounting zone to which the image sensor 44 may be coupled. It is to be appreciated that various configurations of sensor assembly can be used. The sensor support bracket 42 and image sensor 44 may be removably secured to the flange 47 to allow the sensor support bracket 42 and image sensor 44 to be removed from the hydrocyclone when it is in operation and re-installed once the hydrocyclone is switched off and image data is required to be obtained. In an alternative embodiment, at least the image sensor is displaceable relative to the upper portion of the hydrocyclone between a first position wherein the image sensor is positioned so that it is not exposed to the fluid when the hydrocyclone is in operation and a second position when the hydrocyclone is turned off wherein the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot to captures image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone. In such an alternative embodiment, the image sensor support may include a displaceable support member, on which the mounting zone and image sensor are located, which is rotatably displaceable within the image sensor support between a first position wherein the image sensor is orientated away from the spigot and the second position wherein the image sensor is orientated towards from the spigot. The displaceable support member may include sealing members positioned around an outer periphery of the member which creates a fluid tight seal between a sidewall of the image sensor support and the displaceable support member. The image sensor support may include a drive mechanism connected to the displaceable support member to displace it between the first and second positions. In this embodiment, the image sensor 44 comprises a camera. A suitable camera for use in this embodiment is a BVS-E Universal vision sensor available from Balluff GmbH, SchurwaldstraBe 9, 73765, Neuhausen, Germany. It is to be appreciated that alternative cameras such as the IFM O2D514 may be used instead. The image sensor 44 couples to the mounting zone for example using complementary formations on the support bracket and the mounting zone such as a bayonet fitting or a screw thread fitting. Alternatively, the mounting zone can define a mounting bracket to which the image sensor can be attached using suitable fasteners. An image sensor cable 52 provides an electrical connection between the image sensor and a controller 54. In use, image sensor 44 is configured to capture image data which is sent to the controller 54 to calculate the internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner, and / or vortex finder. The controller 54 comprises an input interface for coupling to the image sensor cable, one or more processors for implementing various analytical functions, non-volatile storage and a user interface. The user interface may comprise an LCD screen. Where the hydrocyclone forms part of a hydrocyclone cluster the sensor support bracket 42 and image sensor 44 may be secured to the flange of one of the hydrocyclone with the image sensor arranged to capture image data and send the image data to a mobile controller. Once the internal diameter of the spigot, spigot liner, and / or vortex finder is calculated the sensor support bracket 42 and image sensor 44 can be removed and secured to the flange of another hydrocyclone. In the alternative embodiment, where the image sensor is displaceable the input interface may comprise a plurality of input modules with each image sensor having a unique identification, and the unique identification is mapped to a particular hydrocyclone (only one is illustrated in Fig. 1, but a cluster of hydrocyclones is typically provided, each hydrocyclone having a dedicated image sensor). The controller may be in the form of a central controller which controls the displacement of the image sensor of each of the hydrocyclone as well as receiving image data from the various image sensors. The system enables the internal diameter of the spigot and / or spigot liner to be measured to ensure the internal diameter is within predefined ranges without the need for a service engineer to enter into the discharge tank and provide a suitable alternative to known methods. The system further enables the internal diameter of the vortex finder to be measured without disassembling the hydrocyclone. Reference numerals 10 hydrocyclone 12 upper chamber of hydrocyclone 14 overflow cap or vortex finder 16 separation chamber 18 spigot 20 longitudinal axis 22 feed inlet 24 overflow outlet 26 air core booster or overflow outlet control chamber 28 discharge outlet 30 upper opening of air core booster 32 inner surface of air core booster 34 centrifugal pump 36 input hose 38 distributor 40 hose 42 sensor support bracket 44 image sensor 46 mounting flange 47 flange of air core booster 48 upper portion of sensor support 49 bolts 50 sidewall of sensor support 52 sensor cable 54 controller

Claims

1. A hydrocyclone for separating fluid into a plurality of streams, the hydrocyclone comprising:a main body having a separation chamber therein, the separation chamber having an inlet for receiving the fluid, an upper outlet and a lower outlet, the separation chamber in communication with the inlet, upper outlet, and lower outlet to deliver a first fluid stream to the upper outlet and a second stream to the lower outlet, the lower outlet defined by a spigot attached to a lower end of the main body with the separation chamber and spigot coaxially aligned to define a central longitudinal axis;an overflow outlet control chamber mounted coaxially with the separation chamber and in fluid flow communication with the separation chamber via the upper outlet, the overflow outlet control chamber further including a tangentially located discharge outlet and an upper opening remote from the overflow outlet in an upper portion of the overflow outlet control chamber; andan image sensor assembly including an image sensor support secured to the upper portion of the overflow outlet control chamber, the image sensor assembly further including an image sensor housed within the image sensor support so that the image sensor’s field of view is orientated through the upper outlet towards the spigot to capture image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone.

2. The hydrocyclone according to claim 1, wherein the separation chamber defines a sidewall having a circular cylindrical upper portion, and a frusto-conical lower portion which tapers away from the upper portion.

3. The hydrocyclone according to claim 2, wherein the image sensor support includes an annular mounting flange which is secured to the overflow outlet control chamber.

4. The hydrocyclone according to claim 3, wherein the image sensor support comprises an upper portion, which is raised relative to the annular mounting flange, and sidewalls of the image sensor support extending between the mounting flange and the upper portion, the image sensor support defining an image sensor housing zone between the sidewalls of the image sensor support in which the image sensor is housed.

5. The hydrocyclone according to claim 4, wherein the image sensor support includes a displaceable support member on which the image sensor is secured and which is rotatably displaceable within in the image sensor support between a first position wherein the image sensor is positioned so that it is not exposed to the fluid when the hydrocyclone is in operation and a second position when the hydrocyclone is turned off wherein the image sensor’s field of view is orientated towards the spigot to captures image data relating to internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the hydrocyclone.24 06 256. The hydrocyclone according to claim 5, wherein the displaceable support member includes sealing members positioned around an outer periphery of the displaceable support member to create a fluid tight seal between the sidewalls of the image sensor support and the displaceable support member.

7. The hydrocyclone according to claim 6, which further includes a drive mechanism connected to the displaceable support member to displace it between the first and second positions.

8. The hydrocyclone according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a camera housed within the sensor housing and arranged to capture image data relating to the internal surface configuration or internal diameter of the spigot and / or a spigot liner.

9. The hydrocyclone according to claim 1, further including a controller in communication with the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor, and wherein the controller is arranged to calculate the internal diameter of the hydrocyclone at a fixed location along the central longitudinal axis.

10. The hydrocyclone according to claim 9, wherein the controller includes an input interface for coupling to the image sensor, one or more processors for implementing various analytical functions, non-volatile storage and a user interface.

11. The hydrocyclone according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the controller is arranged to receive the image data, in the form of two- dimensional images of the spigot and / or a spigot liner and calculate the internal diameter of the spigot and / or the spigot liner.

Images