(398b) Optimization of the Inlet Vane Design in Uniflow Cyclones

Optimization of the Inlet Vane Design in Uniflow Cyclones

M. Pillei¹, M. Kraxner¹, T. Kofler¹, U. Muschelknautz¹

¹MCI – The Entrepreneurial School, Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering, Maximilianstraße 2, A-6020 Innsbruck, AUSTRIA

Uniflow cyclones represent a seperator class which is advantageous in some applications compared to standard reverse-flow cyclones. Economic benefits may from the compact design, the low pressure drop and the easy implementation in existing piping systems.

The main aim of this investigation is to examine the influence of shortening the guide vanes of the swirl generator on collection efficiency and pressure drop. Therefore the length of the inlet vane guides is decreased systematically. Preliminary results already presented at the AIChE 2012 Annual Meeting (639f, Influence of the Inlet Vane Geometry on the Uniflow Cyclones Performance) show an optimization potential. This study extends these results and confirms the expected positive effect. For this purpose particle image velocimetry (2C-PIV) and CFD simulations are applied. The results from these measurements show that the alternating shortening of the guide vanes improves the collection efficiency. To minimize experimental efforts a numerical sensitivity study has been carried and the rated range has been identified. The 2C-PIV is used to validate the CFD simulation data. Moreover experiments with solid-loaded flows indicate similar tendencies.

The results show that the shortening of the guide vanes leads to a detachment of the flow at the backside of the vanes leading to higher velocities in the vane channel. As a result the collection efficiency increases at an unchanged constant pressure drop.