Optimization of cyclone separator for oil palm loose fruit collection using computational fluid dynamics and response surface methodology

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and response surface methodology were used to optimize a two-stage cyclone separator with critical diameters of 0.3 m and 0.4 m for oil palm loose fruit collection. Interactions between inlet air speed, vortex finder length, and exit diameter on the pressure drop, collection efficiency, and separation efficiency were investigated using response surface methodology. Results indicate that all factors were significant with a p-value < 0.05, except for the effects of vortex finder length on the pressure drop. Data was then fitted using quadratic polynomial method that predicts the optimized design via desirability approach. Ultimately, optimized design is inlet air speed of 21.51 m s⁻¹, a vortex finder length of 0.405 m, and an exit diameter of 0.131 m.