Abstract
Mechanism of particle separation in a cylindrical cyclone separator has been fully clarified by a combined numerical method of large eddy simulation and a particle tracking method. The former resolves all the important vortical structures in the separator while the latter inputs the instantaneous flow fields computed by the LES and computes trajectory of each particle by considering Stokes drag as well as gravity force. Particle collection efficiency predicted by the proposed method has been compared with the experimental data measured for two cylindrical cyclone separators with several sets of particle diameters. The results showed that the collection efficiency has been quantitatively predicted by the proposed method, which confirms that the method can be used for the engineering design of such a cyclone separator. Detailed investigation of the particle trajectories predicted by the present method has clarified the mechanism of particle separation of a cylindrical cyclone separator. Those particles that are successfully collected by the separator move outward in the swirl flow and are collected when the swirl flow changes its direction at the bottom of the separator. The essential mechanism of this particle separation is due to the centrifugal forces acting on the particles. Three types of particle trajectories have been identified for those particles that are exhausted from the cyclone separator together with the swirl flow. More than half of the uncollected particles are trapped by longitudinal vortexes. The unsteady longitudinal vortexes and vortex rope drastically decrease collection efficiency.
