Effect of Inlet Air Volumetric Flow Rate on the Performance of a Two-Stage Cyclone Separator

It is very important to improve the cyclone separator separation efficiency for fine particles. On the basis of the Reynolds stress model (RSM), a new two-stage cyclone separation device is modeled and the model is simulated under six kinds of air volumetric flow rate conditions. The two-stage cyclone separator was then tested in the laboratory and the experimental data were compared with the simulation data. The results show that the RSM model can predict the performance of the two-stage cyclone separation device with high accuracy. Increasing of the air volumetric flow rate can not only improve the separation efficiency of the two-stage cyclone separator, but also effectively change the classification range. Because of the centrifugal force, even if the pressure drop is low, the 1st-cyclone can completely separate particles above 5.0 μm. When the air volumetric flow rate is more than 290 m³/h, the 2nd-cyclone can effectively separate the particles below 2.0 μm. The study also confirmed the nonlinear relationship between the pressure drop and the cut-off particle size and the maximum particle size. When the pressure drop exceeds a certain value, there is no longer any effect on the cut-off particle size and the maximum particle size.