In oil drilling, hydrocyclones usually refer to 10 inch desander cones and 4 inch desilter cones. And use desander cones & desilter cones to separate different size solids content.
For each kind of cones, need one separate tank compartment. Generally, a desander and a desilter manifold are available as part of the rig equipment. Hydrocyclones should process all drilling fluid entering their suction compartments independently of the drilling-fluid circulation rate.
The flowability requires the system operating continually. Suction is taken from the tank immediately upstream of the discharge tank. The number of cones in use should process at least 100% but preferably greater than 100% of the flow rate of all fluids entering the suction tank for the hydrocyclone.
A backflow between the hydrocyclone discharge and suction compartments of at least 100 gpm usually ensures adequate processing. Estimations based on rig circulation rates are usually inadequate if the plumbing is not arranged properly.
GN Solids Control usually choose 3 phase separation for HDD and other compact system for HDD and other similar projects. To keep a better result for the drilling fluids separation. Specially designed cones ensure the result.