Hydrodynamic characteristics of a 2D2D cyclone separator with a finned cylindrical body

• Published in: Powder technology 2020-03, Vol.363, p.541-558
• Main Authors: Dasar, Mahesh, Patil, Ranjit S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boilers; Collection; Collection efficiency; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer applications; Cyclone separators; Cylindrical bodies; Dynamic characteristics; Efficiency; Fins; Fluidized beds; Gases; Health problems; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Separators; Triangular fins; Velocity
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.01.021

Cyclone separators used for separating solid particles from the gases mainly employed in electricity generating units having fluidized bed boilers and in other industries such as cement industries. In the present study, cylindrical portion of the nonfinned (conventional) cyclone separator (nfcs) was reshaped by fixing triangular helical fins in order to improve its performance in terms of collection efficiency. Fluid dynamic characteristics like axial velocity, tangential velocity, pressure drops etc. were studied which influences the collection efficiency by varying the fin size (fs) such as 5.0 mm, 7.5 mm and 10.0 mm and also by varying fin pitch (fp) as 50.0 mm and 30.0 mm. With available experimental work, validation was accomplished for the nfsc before proceeding computational study on the novel triangular finned cyclone separators (fcs). For the particles' size less than 3 μm, comparatively proposed triangular fin with fs & fp as 7.5 mm & 30.0 mm respectively was giving improved collection efficiency than other selected separators. Improvement in the collection efficiency of triangular finned cyclone separators (fcs) was perceived from 5% to 10% over the conventional cyclone separator (nfcs). Main role of the cyclone separators is to separate the particles from gases which was unruffled after by inclusion of fins. Rather fin inclusion has played a dominant role in minimizing very fine particulate matter emissions which otherwise leads to severe health problems. [Display omitted] •Helical triangular fins were fixed on barrel's inner wall of the cyclone separator.•Fluid-dynamics characteristics were compared for finned & non-finned barrels.•Separation efficiency was improved with finned cyclone separators.•Collection efficiency was improved by 10% for very fine particles of size 1.5 μm.