Flow Pattern and Pressure Drop for Small Long‐Cylinder Cyclones Operating at High Flow Rates

To address the gas flow pattern and pressure drop characteristics for small long‐cylinder cyclones (SLCCs) in the high operating flow rate range, experimental investigation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)‐based simulation were performed. The pressure drop coefficient depends insignificantly on the Reynolds number at high flow rates. The tangential and axial velocities present the Rankine vortex and the roughly inverted V‐shaped distribution, respectively, similar to those in typical cyclones. The CFD simulation approximated well the experimental data of pressure drop. The pressure drop caused by vortex loss, turbulent energy loss, and resistance loss accounted for 72.5 % of the total pressure drop. The Stairmand model was found to be relatively accurate among the classical pressure drop models for the proposed cyclone. The results may help in the design and applications of cyclone separators and reactors.     

Determining Cyclone Particle Holdup by Pressure Drop for a CFB Boiler

An experimental study was conducted to assess the possibility of determining particle holdup by measuring the pressure drop of a conventional cyclone used in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler. It was found that within a wide range of inlet solid concentrations, i.e., 0.54–4.42 kg/kg‐gas, the cyclone pressure drop increased linearly with inlet solid concentration at a given gas velocity, while the pressure drop between the dust exit and the vortex finder of the cyclone remained almost constant. Since particle holdup increases virtually linearly with solid flow rate, the particle holdup in the cyclone can be derived from the cyclone pressure drop, and therefore, an equation set was proposed to calculate the particle holdup from the cyclone pressure drop.     

Characterization of multiphase gas–solid flow and accuracy of turbulence models for lower stage cyclones used in suspension preheaters

This study involved the analysis and characterization of the multiphase flow phenomenon inside the lower stage cyclone separator used in the clinker burning process. The analysis was performed using both CFD and experimental research methods. Very few studies are devoted to such types of cyclone separators, which in addition to their basic functions are also responsible for the technological process. Due to the atypical working conditions of these cyclone separators, they are characterized with a complex geometry, which significantly differs from that of the traditional separators.Furthermore, the evaluation of the accuracy and level of reliability of the two models of turbulence closure—k-e RNG and RSM(RANS), and the LES. The results obtained led to the conclusion that for the lower stage cyclone separators, the LES model proved to be the most accurate(both in the case of forecasting the separation efficiency and pressure drop). The performance parameter(in particular the separation efficiency) values obtained for the RSM model were also characterized by high accuracy. The k-e RNG model was characterized by significantly larger deviations.     

颗粒负荷对小型旋风器性能影响的模拟分析

为探究颗粒负荷对小型旋风器内气固两相流动的影响,基于雷诺应力模型（RSM）和欧拉-欧拉方法的混合流模型（Mixture）进行气体-颗粒、颗粒-颗粒的相间耦合计算。采用粒径为0.5～5μm的颗粒组在40L/min、60L/min和80L/min的入口流量下模拟0~3kg/m³的5种不同颗粒浓度工况,通过对比旋风器内纯气相流场和颗粒负荷流场的不同,研究了颗粒的存在对流场的影响;探究了入口流量和浓度变化对旋风器内分离效率和压降特性的影响。基于模型有效性验证的数值模拟结果表明：较高颗粒浓度负荷使旋风器内的气相流场发生显著变化。随着入口流量的增大,旋风器的分离效率先增大后减小,压降呈非线性增大。随着颗粒浓度的增大,旋风器的分离效率逐渐增大,压降先减小后增大。     

带有减阻杆的旋风分离器内气体流动分析

利用激光多普勒测速仪(LDV)对装有减阻杆的旋风分离器内流场进行了详细测量,根据流场分布的特点发现在减阻杆后存在明显的绕流尾涡区.对比实验的结果表明不同结构型式的减阻杆后绕流尾涡区的流动分布不同,其中减阻杆的迎风宽度及形状对减阻杆后绕流尾涡区的流动分布有明显影响.由于减阻杆的迎风宽度及形状与减阻性能有关,因此通过对减阻杆后绕流尾涡区的流动分析可以进一步揭示旋风分离器内减阻杆的减阻机理.     

循环旋风分离器内流场的数值模拟

采用CFD模拟软件Fluent6．2提供的雷诺应力模型（RSM）对循环旋风分离器内的流场进行了数值模拟研究,并与实验结果进行了比较,模拟结果与实验结果基本吻合。结果表明,循环旋风分离器特殊的流路设计,提高了内部流场的对称性,规整了气流,减少了紊流的产生,降低了设备的压降。时局部涡的分析,为进一步了解循环旋风分离器的分离机制和优化结构提供了参考依据。     

环流式旋风除尘器内流场的数值模拟

采用 CFD 模拟软件 Fluent 6.2 提供的雷诺应力模型(RSM)对环流式旋风除尘器内的流场进行了数值模拟研究.并与热线热膜风速仪实验测试结果进行了比较.模拟结果与实验结果基本吻合.结果表明:环流式旋风除尘器特殊的流路设计,避免了内外旋涡的相互干扰,增强了旋转速度,规整了流形,减小了强湍流对性能的影响,消除了旋风除尘器易产生的短路流和二次返混,提高了除尘效率,降低了设备的压降.通过对影响除尘器性能的局部涡进行分析,为进一步优化结构提供了参考依据.     

A universal model to calculate cyclone pressure drop

The definition and composition of the pressure drop over a tangential inlet, reverse flow cyclone have been analyzed. It is assumed that two factors mainly contribute to the pressure drop, i.e., the local loss and the loss along the distance. The former includes the expansion loss at the cyclone inlet and the contraction loss at the entrance of the outlet tube (or vortex finder). The latter consists of the swirling loss resulting from friction at the cyclone walls and the dissipation of gas dynamic energy in the outlet tube. By use of the measured results of the flow field in cyclones, the calculation methods for each loss have been developed. And a universal model to predict the cyclone pressure drop is thus obtained simply by summing each loss. A detailed comparison between the calculated and experimental results shows that this accurate model is suitable either for pure or for dust laden gases at normal or high temperatures and can meet the requirement of most cyclone designs.     

Effects of Surface Roughness on the Performance of Tangential Inlet Cyclone Separators

This study is carried out to investigate the effects of surface roughness on the flow field and cyclone performance. The flow inside the cyclone separator is modeled as a three-dimensional turbulent continuous gas flow with solid particles as a discrete phase. The continuous gas flow is predicted by solving the governing equations by using the Reynolds Stress turbulence model, and the modeling of the particle motions is based on a Lagrangian approach. The results of the numerical simulations are compared with experimental data as well as with the results of mathematical models. Analysis of computed results shows that increase of relative roughness due to corrosion, wear, or accumulation of particles on the inner walls considerably influences the tangential velocity, cyclone separation efficiency, and cyclone pressure drop especially for high inlet velocities. Decreases in cyclone collection efficiency and pressure drop with the increase in surface roughness are found to be more pronounced for high values of relative roughness.     

Development of a symmetrical spiral inlet to improve cyclone separator performance

Three cyclone separators with different inlet geometry were designed, which include a conventional tangential single inlet (CTSI), a direct symmetrical spiral inlet (DSSI), and a converging symmetrical spiral inlet (CSSI). The effects of inlet type on cyclone performance characteristics, including the collection efficiency and pressure drop, were investigated and compared as a function of particle size and flow rate in this paper. Experimental result indicated that the symmetrical spiral inlet (SSI), especially CSSI inlet geometry, has effect on significantly increasing collection efficiency with insignificantly increasing pressure drop. In addition, the results of collection efficiency and pressure drop comparison between the experimental data and the theoretical model were also involved.     

CFD analysis of flow field in square cyclones

In this study, computational fluid dynamic method is used to predict and evaluate the flow field inside a square cyclone. The flow field is calculated using 3D Reynolds-averaged Naveir-Stokes equations. The Reynolds stress transport model (RSTM) is used to simulate the Reynolds stresses. The Eulerian-Lagrangian computational procedure is implemented to predict particle trajectory in the cyclone. The Newton's second law is used to study the particle trajectory with modeling the drag and gravity forces acting on the particles. The velocity fluctuations are simulated using the discrete random walk (DRW). Two square cyclones which have different geometries are studied. The cyclones are simulated at different flow rates. The details of the flow field are studied in the cyclones and the effect of varying the flow rates is observed. Tangential velocity is investigated in different sections inside the square cyclone. Contour of pressure and turbulence intensity is shown for different inlet velocities inside the cyclones. It is observed that different geometries, also different inlet velocities, could affect on the pressure drop. The collection efficiency and the flow patterns obtained numerically are compared with the experimental data and good agreement is observed.     

Experimental Study of Particle Collection by Small Cyclones

A new set of experimental data on the particle collection characteristics of small cyclones is reported. The collection efficiency for particles ranging from 2 to 10 μm in diameter was measured systematically for nine cyclones at flow rates ranging from 8.8 to 18.4 L/min. Special emphasis was given to the effects of the exit tube size and of the cyclone body size on the particle collection efficiency. The size ratio of the exit tube to the cyclone body was varied from 0.24 to 0.80. The experimental results show that the stiffness of the particle collection cutoff with size does not change noticeably with a change in the cyclone body size while operation of a cyclone at a low flow rate can cause the particle collection characteristics to become less stiff. It was also found that the exit tube diameter influences the particle collection efficiency substantially, with results showing that as the exit tube size is decreased, the collection efficiency increases. A large cyclone body size increases the efficiency. However, when the cyclone body is increased excessively, the collection efficiency appears to decrease somewhat. The experimental data were compared with existing cyclone theories and Barth's (1956) theory was found to be in good agreement. Finally, the exit tube was found to affect substantially the pressure drop of cyclones. As the exit tube size increased, the pressure drop decreased. However, when the exit tube size was further increased until it approached the body size, the pressure drop increased again.     

旋风分离器旋进涡核的数值模拟

采用雷诺应力模型对旋风分离器内三维非稳态流场进行了模拟计算。结果表明,旋风分离器全空间内都存在旋进涡核现象。对旋进涡核现象和旋进涡核中心的运动规律进行了详细的描述,分析了不同轴向位置的旋进涡核区域内不同点的速度波动幅值和频率,得到了旋进涡核影响范围以及速度波动规律;通过分析旋进涡核中心的运动频率,得到了旋进涡核出现的强度。模拟结果与采用热线风速仪以及激光粒子成像技术(PIV)测定的实验结果基本吻合。研究结果可以分析旋进涡核对分离效率和压降的影响。     

气液旋流分离器进口宽高比优化的数值模拟

利用FLUENT提供的RSM和DPM模型对不同入口高度和宽度的气液旋流分离器进行了数值模拟. 结果显示,当增大宽度或高度时切向速度与分离效率减小,但压降降低;当宽度大于环形空间的间隙时,部分进气流量直接作用于排气管上,影响内部流场;减小入口宽度或高度时引起的压降无明显差别,但减小宽度可提高分离效率而高度则相反. 入口高度(a)与分离器筒体直径(D)的比值a/D和宽度(b)与分离器筒体直径(D)的比值b/D约为0.2时,压降基本相同,但分离效率相差约3.6%. a/D约为0.38时,分离效率约为95.6%,压降约为340 Pa;而b/D约为0.25时效率为96.3%,压降约为320 Pa,入口宽度对分离器性能的影响比入口高度更显著.     

Effect of a Stick on the Flow Field in a Cyclone and the Pressure Drop Reduction Mechanism

Measurements of the flow field in a cyclone separator with and without a reducing pressure drop stick (Repds) showed that the Repds reduces the peak tangential velocity, the axial velocity gradient, and the radial gradients of static and total pressure and reverses the axial static pressure gradient. These changes reduce the energy consumed by the rotating kinetic energy, the internal friction, the turbulent kinetic energy, and the drag of the negative pressure difference. The results are used to discuss why the separation efficiency remains high while the pressure drop is reduced. The results also show that a 24% "short flow" occurs near the cyclone entrance. Analysis of the changes in the flow field and the pressure drop due to the thin stick shows that the Repds increases the pressure drop in the outer vortex zone and reduces the pressure drop in the inner vortex zone. Therefore the pressure drop reduction with the Repds is due to its wake vortex, which leads to the hypothesis that the pressure drop in turbulent flow can be reduced by adding vortexes.     

Effect of the Solid Loading on a PFBC Cyclone with Pneumatic Extraction of Solids

This paper presents the effects of solid loading on the performance of a cyclone with pneumatic extraction of solids. The cyclone is a non‐conventional design, especially used for hot‐gas cleaning applications such as pressurized fluidized bed combustors (PFBC). A scaled‐down cold‐flow model was employed for the research. Experiments were conducted at 9–14 m/s inlet gas velocities, inlet solid loadings ranging from 30 to 230 g/kg gas, and bottom gas extraction percentages from 0.3 to 1.5%. Experimental results of pressure drop resistance coefficients and collection efficiency were compared with literature predictions. At PFBC operating conditions, cyclone geometry and solid concentration are the main parameters influencing cyclone pressure drop and collection efficiency. The vortex penetration in dipleg causes lower pressure drop values and higher collection efficiencies than predicted. These parameters can be suitably predicted for PFBC cyclones by introducing a modified penetration length in Muschelknautz's model [1]. For the present cyclone design, a new correlation of pressure drop, including the influence of solid loading, is proposed. A new method for detecting cyclone fouling, not previously addressed, is also presented, based on the evolution of the pressure drop resistance coefficient. An enhanced separation efficiency has been found, related to collection efficiency, which is especially important for particle sizes below 10 μm revealing agglomeration effects.     

A Theoretical Approach to Pressure Drop across Cyclone Separators

Based on investigation of the flow pattern in cyclone separators, a new theoretical model was developed for the prediction of pressure drop across cyclone separators. This model includes the effect of the geometrical dimensions and flow parameters, and assumes that the total pressure drop consists of four main partial pressure drops due to gas expansion at the separator entrance, wall friction within the separator, swirling motion of the gas, and gas flow through the outlet pipe. The availability of the method is verified by the comparison of calculated values with experimental data and with other models for different dimensions of cyclones.     

排气管偏置分离器分离性能的数值模拟

采用雷诺应力模型（Reynolds stress model,RSM）对旋风分离器排气管中置和偏置时的气相流场进行了数值模拟,并用拉格朗日法模拟了分离器内颗粒的运动轨迹。气相流场模拟结果与实验结果吻合得较好。结果表明：排气管偏置后,分离器内沿排气管偏置方向的切向速度有所提高,排气管下部短路流较小,颗粒离心运动更加强烈,提高了分离效率的同时压降变化不大,分离器经济性更好。     

Effect of a Stick on the Gas Turbulence Structure in a Cyclone Separator

Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) was used to measure the turbulence structure of the flow field in a cyclone separator. The measurement results showed that a stick inserted in the cyclone changed the distribution of the flow field. A flow wake region downstream the stick decreased the tangential velocity and increased the turbulence intensity. The size and shape of the stick cross-section had a remarkable effect on the distribution of the flow wake and the turbulence structure of the flow field. The changes of the flow field explained how the stick reduced the pressure drop over the cyclone.     

蜗壳式旋风分离器减阻实验研究

根据蜗壳式旋风分离器环形空间流场研究结果,在分离器排气管特定位置上加装减阻片。加装直片减阻片后,最大减阻幅度达59%,但由于减阻片对环形空间内的切向速度影响较大,分离效率下降约5%,综合效率因子降低了2.2%;在排气管外壁周向270o处加装改进型减阻片对切向速度的影响较小,同时可以大幅度提高分离器中心部分的静压,从而可使分离器压降降低22%,效率仅下降0.3%,综合效率因子提高25%。