Enhancing the sub-micrometer performance of a uniflow cyclone separator using a built-in stainless steel mesh filter

Abstract

Although the uniflow cyclone separator has low pressure drop and high collection efficiency compared to other existing cyclone separators, it still has room to improve its collection efficiency of submicron particles. For this reason, we present a new uniflow cyclone separator with an installed mesh filter called the MFUC. The MFUC cyclone body is not made of a solid wall but a stainless steel mesh with porosity. Our research newly revealed that the pressure gradient in the radial direction at the front region of the mesh filter is reversed in the rear region, which can help to remove sub-micrometer particles which are difficult to collect using a basic cyclone separator. The measured MFUC performance showed the synergetic effect of filtration and inertial separation for the removal of fine particles. As the inlet flow rate increases, the inertial separation becomes more effective than filtration. In addition, the cut-off diameter of the MFUC was 0.83 μm at 500 lpm, which is 56.6 % smaller than that of the basic cyclone separator.