1. Slight/Single-tube blockage: This only causes a slight decrease in single-stage separation efficiency, manifested as a small reduction in starch recovery rate (generally 2%-5%) and a slight increase in the impurity content of the finished starch. It will not interrupt production, but it will slightly increase the load on subsequent processing. Long-term neglect will accelerate the wear of other hydrocyclones.
2. Moderate/Multiple-tube blockage: This will lead to a significant decrease in the separation performance of the entire hydrocyclone, with starch recovery rate decreasing by more than 10%. The finished starch will have excessive levels of protein and fiber impurities, failing to meet factory standards. It will also cause increased feed pressure, reduced processing capacity, and slow down the entire production line.
3. Complete blockage: The hydrocyclone completely stops feeding, causing an imbalance in inlet and outlet pressures. The entire starch refining section will be forced to shut down. Production must be stopped for cleaning before it can resume, directly impacting production plans and potentially leading to upstream material accumulation and production chaos.
Furthermore, the flow field disturbance caused by blockage will accelerate the wear of unblocked hydrocyclones. Long-term neglect will lead to damage to more components, increasing equipment maintenance costs.
