Effects of separation layer on the performance of multi-layer cyclone separators

In order to improve the efficiency of cyclone separators under variable working conditions, a cyclone separator with a multi-layer cylinder structure was proposed. Numerical simulation and experiments on its separation performance were studied. When the inlet velocity was high (12~13m∙s-1), the separation efficiency of the three different structures was basically consistent. However, for oil droplets with diameters of 2 ~5 μm, the number of oil droplets at the outlet of the three-layer cylinder separator were reduced by 77.2%~51.0%. When the inlet velocity was relatively low (7~8m∙s-1), the separation efficiency of the three-layer cylinder separator was increased by 24.1%. The pressure loss of the three-layer cylinder separator decreased by 35%~45% compared with the cyclone separator with a single layer structure under studied conditions. The results show that the three-layer cyclone separator has low pressure loss, high separation efficiency under low loading and good separation efficiency of smaller oil droplets under high loading. This study indicates that the cyclone separator with a three-layer separation structure maintains high separation performance under variable working conditions. © 2019, Editorial Board of "Journal of Chemical Engineering of Chinese Universities". All right reserved.