Abstract: Heavy medium cyclone is one of the main coal washing equipment applied in China, and its performance has a direct bearing on coal washing efficiency. Following an analysis of the working principle of H. M. cyclone and the factors influencing the coal washing efficiency, the paper goes to elaborate on the improvements made in recent years on structural design of shape of feed pipe, conical body and overflow pipe, as well as the work on optimization of such process parameters as feeding made and pressure, and property and density of heavy medium suspension. It is pointed out that renovation of structural design and feeding mode of the cyclone and optimization of medium suspension property are the focal aspects toward which the future research work needs to be directed.