Mud cleaner is the second or third stage solids control equipment of drilling liquid, which deals with the mud after being treated by the first grade separation equipment. The barite will be recovered and cuttings which are bigger than barite will be removed. Then the barite in the underflow will flow into mud tanks through the shale shaker screens when the weighted mud passes while the particles that are bigger than mesh are removed.

Mud cleaner is a combination of a shale shaker and hydrocyclones, which include desander and desilter. Mud cleaner is also called desander and desilter integrated cleaner. The desander is distributed in a line pattern, while the desilter is distributed in a round pattern.

How does mud cleaner work?

The feed slurry of solids and liquid is fed through the inlet at a high velocity obtained by steady pressure of twenty-five. The high velocity transmitted to the feed section creates a spinning veclocity and resulting centrifugal forces. The vortex finder causes the stream to spire downward towards the hydro cyclone wall.

The solids separate according to size and weight particles. In the destiny range of particles in drilling fluids, size is of far more influence than the variations in density so that basically the biggest particles settle first and fastest.

The cone section narrows, inner layer of the downward spinning liquid turn back toward the overflow because of the increasing centrifugal forces near the center.

Maintenance of Drilling Mud Cleaner

Usually, after it operates 500h, we should maintain it, the main part are rotating part, tensioning the firmware and replacing part of lose efficacy components.

After it operates 4000h, it need to overhaul, the main content is to maintain the cleaner from all sides, replace the cone, check the insulation of the electrical machine, lubricate or tension all parts, at last we should paint the anti-corrosion painting.