Cyclonic separation is a method of removing particulates from an air, gas or water stream, without the use of filters, through

vortex separation. Rotational effects and gravity are used to separate mixtures of solids and fluids.

PRINCIPLE

A high speed rotating (air)flow is established within a cylindrical or conical container called a cyclone.

Air flows in a spiral pattern, beginning at the top (wide end) of the cyclone and ending at the bottom (narrow) end before exiting the cyclone in a straight stream through the center of the cyclone and out the top.

Larger (denser) particles in the rotating stream have too much inertia to follow the tight curve of the stream and strike the outside wall, falling then to the bottom of the cyclone where they can be removed.
In a conical system, as the rotating flow moves towards the narrow end of the cyclone the rotational radius of the stream is reduced, separating smaller and smaller particles.

The cyclone geometry, together with flow rate, defines the cut point of the cyclone.
This is the size of particle that will be removed from the stream with a 50% efficiency. Particles larger than the cut point will be removed with a greater efficiency, and smaller particles with a lower efficiency.

Diesel can emit up to 100 times more particulate matter than gasoline engine.

The reduction of particulate emissions from diesel engine is one of the most challenging problems associated with the exhaust pollution control.

Such emissions (in the agglomerated particle size range of 0.1 m to 1 m) can easily enter the human respiratory system and are capable of causing cancer because of their association with absorbed and condensed carcinogenic compounds, such as, Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), Nitro-PAH and sulfates. It is also associated with eye irritation, visibility reduction, material soiling and degradation.

Diesel Uncontrolled Emissions and SCAQMD Emissions Limits

Emissions Baseline Levels 8.75 g/bhp-hr Regulation Levels 0.60 g/bhp-hr % Reduction Required 93.2%

NOx

CO

0.72 g/bhp-hr

0.60 g/bhp-hr

16.7%

HC

0.20 g/bhp-hr

0.15 g/bhp-hr

25%

PM

0.30 g/bhp-hr

0.045 g/bhp-hr

85%

The reduction of particulate matter (PM) and NOx emissions from diesel engine, without eroding its fuel conversion efficiency, is a technical problem to be tackled. Many of the solutions proposed to date suffer from design complexity, cost,regeneration problem and energy demands.

Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) hold out the prospects of substantially reducing regulated particulate emissions but the question of the reliable regeneration of filters still remains a difficult hurdle to be solved. Cyclone separator being a non-contact type particulate removal system exerts less back pressure to the diesel engine combustion.

Very few studies have been done on cyclone separator as a diesel soot particulate filter.

Cyclone separator with low initial cost, simple construction gives high collection efficiencies and reduced regeneration problems.

The result shows good agreements with existing cyclone and diesel particulate flow characteristics

The most common types of centrifugal, or inertial, collectors in use today are: Single-cyclone separators

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They create a dual vortex to separate coarse from fine dust. The main vortex spirals downward and carries most of the coarser dust particles. The inner vortex, created near the bottom of the cyclone, spirals upward and carries finer dust particles.

Multiple-cyclone separators Also known as multiclones, consist of a number of small-diameter cyclones, operating in parallel and having a common gas inlet and outlet, as shown in the figure

Multiclones operate on the same principle as cyclonescreating a main downward vortex and an ascending inner vortex.

Multiclones are more efficient than single cyclones because they are longer and smaller in diameter. The longer length provides longer residence time while the smaller diameter creates greater centrifugal force. These two factors result in better separation of dust particulates. The pressure drop of multiclone collectors is higher than that of single-cyclone separators.

Dust collectors vary widely in design, operation, effectiveness, space requirements, construction, and capital, operating, and maintenance costs. Characteristics of dust - Moderate to heavy concentrations of many dusts can be abrasive to dry centrifugal collectors.

Hygroscopic material can blind bag collectors. Sticky material can adhere to collector elements and plug passages.

Degree of dust collection required - The degree of dust collection required depends on its potential as a health hazard or public nuisance, the plant location, the allowable emission rate, the nature of the dust, its salvage value, and so forth.

The selection of a separator should be based on the efficiency required and should consider the need for high-efficiency, highcost equipment,

Cyclone separator efficiencies depend on, particle size (particles with larger mass being subjected to greater force), force exerted on the dust particles and, time that the force is exerted on the particles

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Cyclone scan be designed with either large or narrow diameters depending on the application.

Small diameter cyclones have high dust collection efficiencies at low dust loads (0.1 to 6 grains per cubic foot) and high pressure drop of 6 to 10 inches w.c. (water column).

Owing to the small diameter they have the tendency to plug at high dust loads. Large diameter cyclones can handle high dust loads (50-100 grains per cu.ft) with low pressure drops (1.5 to 3 inch w.c.) efficiently. They are not very efficient at low dust loads.

To improve efficiencies, design considerations are, high narrow inlets reduce distances traveled by dust to the wall and thereby improve collection efficiencies

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small diameters have higher forces than larger diameter cyclones

smooth transition ensures maximum efficiency.

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Performance characteristics of a cyclone are determined by its proportions and size and by the properties and flow rates of the air and dust. Performance is described by pressure drop (energy consumption), fractional efficiency (weight percent collected of any particle size), and total efficiency (total collected weight percent).

Large scale cyclones are used in sawmills to remove sawdust from extracted air. Cyclones are also used in oil industries to separate oils and gases, and in the cement industry as components of kiln preheaters. Smaller cyclones are used to separate airborne particles for analysis. Some are small enough to be worn clipped to clothing and are used to separate respirable particles for later analysis.