Principles of Cyclone Separator:
Operates on the principle of centrifugal separation. Particles are separated from a gas stream by centrifugal forces generated within a cyclone chamber.
Construction:
Cyclone Chamber: A cylindrical or conical chamber with a tangential inlet.
Inlet: For the gas-particle mixture.
Outlet: For clean gas at the top and for separated particles at the bottom.
Vortex Finder: A tube extending into the cyclone to reduce turbulence and improve separation efficiency.
Working:
The gas-particle mixture enters the cyclone tangentially, creating a spiral motion.
Centrifugal forces push heavier particles toward the outer wall, where they lose momentum and fall to the bottom.
Clean gas exits through the vortex finder at the top.
Uses:
Widely used in industrial dust collection systems.
Pre-cleaning of gases in power plants, cement factories, and metal industries.
Merits:
No moving parts, resulting in low maintenance.
Capable of handling high dust loads.
Efficient for separating coarse particles.
Demerits:
Inefficient for very fine particles.
Pressure drop can be significant, requiring energy to maintain flow.
Not suitable for sticky or hygroscopic materials.