FLUID FLOW

Cyclone Separator
For separation of small solid particles or mist from gases, the most used type of equipment is cyclone separator.

Cyclone Separators
Asst.Prof.Dr. Sirirat Wacharawichanant
Department of Chemical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology

A device that uses centrifugal forces to accelerate the settling of solid particles. Basically, a particle-laden gas stream is introduced tangentially in the unit. Particles move to the cyclone separator walls and then to the bottom of the device. The gas first moves downward, then up to the top.

FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Cyclone Separator
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The cyclone consists of a vertical cylinder with a conical bottom. The gas gas-solid solid particle mixture enters in a tangential inlet near the top. This gas-solid mixtures enters in a rotating motion, and vortex formed develops centrifugal force, which throw the particles radially toward the wall. wall On entering, the air in cyclone flows downward in a spiral or vortex adjacent to the wall.

Cyclone Separator

When air reaches near the bottom of cone, it spiral upward in a smaller spiral in the center of cone and cylinder. A double vortex is present. The downward and upward spirals are in the same direction. The particles are thrown toward the wall and fall downward, leaving out the bottom of cone.

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Fig. 7-1 Gas-solid cyclone separator.

FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

A cyclone is settling device in which the outward force on the particles at high tangential velocities is many times the force of gravity.
FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Theory for Cyclone Separator

It is assumed that particles on entering a cyclone quickly reach their terminal settling velocities. Particle sizes are usually y so small that Stokes law is considered valid. For centrifugal motion, the terminal radial velocity vtR is given by Eq.(4-1), with vtR being used for vt,

Theory for Cyclone Separator

Eq.(4-2) becomes

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v tR

2 D2 p p v tan

18

v2 v t tan gr gr

(4-3)

vt

rD p
2 2 p

(4-1)

18

vt R
vtan : vtan/r

2 rD 2 p p 18

The higher vt, the greater vtR and the easier it should be to settle the particle at walls. However, the evaluation of radical velocity is difficult, since it is a function of vt, vtan, and position radially and axially in cyclone. Hence, the following empirical equation if often used.

( (4-2) )

vt R
B1,n

b1D 2 p p 18r
n

(4-4)

: Tangential velocity of particle at radius r

:Empirical constants.

FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Cyclone Separator

Cyclone Separator
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FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Cyclone Separator
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FLUID FLOW : DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING