PREDICTION OF PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES AND EFFICIENCY OF CYCLONE DUST SEPARATORS USING A CFD TECBWIQUE

As part of a study aimed at performance improvements in multicyclones for solids removal from industrial boiler flue gases prediction of particle trajectories, as well as separation efficiencies, have been computed for individual axial-entry reverse-flow cells in a parallel arrangement of cells. Predictions have been made of the effect on overall (by mass) and grade (by particle size) separation efficiencies of parameters, such as gas flow rate and particle characteristics. Results are compared with measurements from a onecell laboratory model cyclone. Computed treads in efficiency were satisfactory, while the difference between predicted and measured values is mainly caused by physical phenomena such as agglomeration, which has not yet been modeled.