EFFICIENCY AND PRESSURE DROP OF CYCLONES ACROSS A RANGE OF INLET VELOCITIES

Abstract

Cyclone separators are widely used in agricultural processing industries as air pollution abatement devices. The Texas A&M Cyclone Design (TCD) method is a simple method for designing cyclones based on an inlet design velocity. The TCD method specifies “ideal” inlet velocities of 975 . 120 m/min (3200 . 400 fpm) and 914 . 120 m/min (3000 . 400 fpm) for 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones, respectively. There is evidence that higher dust collection efficiencies may be obtained from cyclones using different inlet velocities than those specified as the “ideal” velocity. This article quantifies the inlet velocities at which maximum collection efficiencies are obtained for 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones and the marginal pressure drop associated with reaching these collection efficiencies. It is demonstrated that for large particles, the collection efficiency of six inch diameter 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones is similar for inlet velocities from 10.16 standard m/s (2000 fpm) up to the design velocity, with significantly lower pressure drop at lower inlet velocities.