Velocity Effects on Operating Parameters of Series Cyclones

Abstract

ABSTRACT PRIOR research by the USDA Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory has shown that adding a cyclone in series with a primary cyclone collector can reduce cotton gin dust emissions by 45 to 54 percent. However, the addition of the secondary cyclone about doubles the air horsepower required to operate the collection system when operated at the industry standard of 15.2 m/s (3000 ft/min) air inlet velocity. Current research has shown that the cyclone system inlet air speed can be lowered from 15.2 m/s (3000 ft/min) to 11.8 m/s (2323 ft/min) without significantly affecting the system collection efficiency. The system pressure drop was lowered from 1.98 kPa (7197 in. water) to 1.20 kPa (4.86 in. water) with the reduction in air inlet velocity. This study shows that a properly designed series cyclone system operated at reduced velocity can reduce gin emissions by over 40 percent without greatly increasing the air horsepower currently required to operate a single cyclone at the current standard air inlet velocity.