Effect of Vortex Finder Diameter on Flow Field and Collection Efficiency of Cyclone Separators

In this study, aerocyclone separators, with five different vortex finder diameters are simulated using commercially available computational fluid dynamics code Fluent 6.3.26 to analyze flow field pattern and the collection efficiency. It is found that a decrease in vortex finder diameter results in an increase in pressure drop by 47.84% and an increase in the collection efficiency by 9.54%, whereas, the increase in vortex finder diameter leads to a reduction in pressure drop by 23.87% and a decrease in the collection efficiency by 7.70% as compared to the Stairmand high efficiency cyclone. It is also observed that a decrease in vortex finder diameter leads to about 33% increase in axial velocity and about 25% increase in tangential velocity, whereas, an increase in vortex finder diameter results in about 23% decrease in axial velocity and about 12% decrease in tangential velocity as compared to the Stairmand high efficiency cyclone.