A NOTE ON THE REDUCED EFFICIENCY OF THE INDUSTRIAL CYCLONE

In this paper a theoretical investigation into the basis of the reduced efficiency of a conical cyclone is performed. By considering the flow in a region where viscosity is unimportant an analytical solution to the problem is obtained. From this model the performance of the cyclone is evaluated and this can be expressed in terms of three operating and design parameters. One of these parameters is the split ratio, that is the proportion of the volume of fluid entering the cyclone which goes to the underflow. It is demonstrated mathematically that the empirical formula for the reduced efficiency at present in common use is a very good absolute measure of the separating ability of a cyclone.