Numerical Simulation of Dust Removal in the Cyclone Collector of a Straw Crusher Based on a Discrete Phase Model

Abstract

The cyclone dust collector is an important subsystem of straw crushers used in agriculture. In the present study, a new type of dust collector with involute morphology is proposed to obtain better dust removal efficiency with respect to that of classical tangential and spiral dust collectors. A discrete phase model (DPM) method is used in synergy with a turbulence model, and the SIMPLE algorithm to simulate the flow field inside the dust collector and the related particle dynamics. It is shown that the internal flow field features a primary swirl, a secondary swirl and blockage effects. Moreover, for the involute dust collector, the tangential velocity in the initial stage and the pressure in the high-pressure area are larger than those obtained for the classical types. The dust removal efficiency is 37.11%, 25.3%, and 16.37% for the involute type dust collector, the tangential type and the spiral type, respectively.