Performance experiments and pressure drop prediction modelling of an energy-saving cyclone separator

The study proposes a new type of axial-inlet cyclone separator with the smaller cylinder-cone ratio and an expansion tube at the particle exhaust, named energy-saving cyclone separator, which offers several advantages over the traditional tangential inlet cyclone in engineering units. Experimental results demonstrate that the separation efficiency exceeds 83 % for fine particles smaller than 10 mu m, while the pressure drop is significantly lower than that of the commonly used PV-type tangential inlet cyclone separator, at only 44 % of the PV cyclone separator's pressure drop. Moreover, the flow fields of energy-saving cyclone separator are measured to analyze its characteristics. It is found that the lower tangential momentum ratio in both the inner and outer swirl zones of energy-saving cyclone separator reduces the dissipation of dynamic swirl pressure at the bottom of the cone section and outlet pipe, resulting in a lower pressure drop. The high proportion of downward axial momentum in the outer swirl section causes the separated large particles to discharge through the dust exhaust, improving the separation efficiency of coarse particles. Furthermore, a model to predict the pressure drop of energy-saving cyclone separator is developed.