The effects of inlet velocity and barrel diameter on cyclone performance

Date

2006-08-16

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Publisher

Texas A&M University

Abstract

Cyclone separators are widely used in agricultural processing industries as air pollution abatement devices. The performance of cyclones is a function of the geometry of the cyclone, operating parameters, and the particle size distribution (PSD) of the entrained aerosol. Multiple models have been proposed to predict the performance of cyclones given different geometric proportions, but many of these models do not quantify changes in performance with changes in inlet velocity or cyclone diameter given fixed geometric proportions. The Texas A&M Cyclone Design (TCD) method is a simple method for designing cyclones based on an inlet design velocity. The TCD method specifies ??ideal?? inlet velocities of 975 ?? 120 m/min (3200 ?? 400 fpm) and 914 ?? 120 m/min (3000 ?? 400 fpm) for 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones, respectively. However, there is evidence that higher dust collection efficiencies may be obtained from cyclones using different inlet velocities than those specified as the ??ideal?? velocity. Furthermore, the TCD method assumes that cyclone performance is independent of cyclone diameter. The present research demonstrates that, for large particles, the collection efficiency of 15.24 cm (six inch) diameter 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones is similar for inlet velocities from 10.16 standard m/s (2000 fpm) up to the design velocity, with significantly lower pressure drop at lower inlet velocities, resulting in lower energy requirements. However, the performance of cyclones is a function of cyclone diameter. Using similar operating parameters, the collection efficiency of a 60.96 cm (24 inch) diameter 1D3D cyclone was significantly lower (α = 0.05) than that of a 15.24 and a 30.48 cm (6 and 12 inch) diameter cyclone, and the collection efficiency of a 91.44 cm (36 inch) cyclone was significantly lower (α = 0.05) than that of a 60.96 cm (24 inch) diameter cyclone. The results of this research suggests the need for a new mathematical model to predict the performance of cyclones.

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