Effects of Vortex Finder Shapes on the Performance of Cyclone Separators

摘要

Researches on vortex finders of cyclone mostly focus on the diameter of the cylinder-shaped vortex finder and the length of its internal section, while the shape of the internal section has significant effect on cyclone's performance. This article establishes, based on the Stairmand cyclone, five different cyclone models, including ones with diameter variation, and ones with internally contracted and expanded shapes. The collection efficiency and pressure drop are calculated by means of computational fluid dynamics and the relations of performances between different models are discussed. The collection efficiency improves significantly with the decrease of the vortex finder diameter; however it is accompanied with sharp increases of pressure drop. Two objectives of cyclone optimization, improving the collection efficiency and reducing the pressure drop, are seemingly contradictory. According to the result in this study, based on the standard Stairmand cyclone, the vortex finder design as contracted and expanded internal section can achieve smaller change in the collection efficiency and pressure drop. This provides a reference for vortex finder design to meet the demands of reduction of pressure drop but not decrease collection efficiency largely or vice versa. (c) 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13146, 2019