Separation of Submicron Condensate Particles in a Vortex Chamber

摘要

Experimental results were obtained on the separation of submicron-size particles (water droplets and ice particles) from a carrier gas (air) in 'reversed-flow' swirl chambers. The separation efficiency, with droplets of about 0.3 micron diameter, was found to vary between 25% and 90%, depending mainly on the relative humidity of the inlet flow. The low values occurred at low humidities when the droplets were vaporized before they reached the enriched exit; the highest values resulted at highly supersaturated chamber conditions when the particles were prevented from revaporization. In order to facilitate the understanding of the complex phenomena taking place in the chamber, visual observations, optical particle size measurements and, in the exhaust passages, detailed flow investigations were carried out. These studies established a reasonably consistent picture of the flow, condensation, and separation processes in the chamber. (Author)