DESIGN OF A CYCLONE SEPARATOR

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Fly ash from the flue gas of a power plant has to be removed
before the gas is sent to an analyzer. Design a cyclone separator for
cleaning the flue gas containing fly ash with the following size
distribution:

Size(microns) <5 5-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 >50

Wt % 15 19 24 14 8 5 15

It is desired to remove particles greater than 10 microns with 99%

efficiency and particles greater than 5 microns with 90%efficiency.
The cooled flue gas is at 30 deg C and 1 atm pressure and has 15%
CO2, 5% O2, 68%N2 and the rest H2O. The flow rate of the gas is
0.01 m3/s.
INTRODUCTION:

Cyclones are the principal type of gas-solids separator employing

centrifugal force, and are widely used.

Gas cyclones are widely used in industry for the separation of

particles from gas and air streams. Water cyclones, also known as
hydro-cyclones, are used for the separation of fluids of differing
densities.

Basically simple constructions; they can be made from a wide

range of materials such as cast iron, ductile iron, carbon steel,
stainless steel. They are suitable for separating particles about 5
m in diameter; smaller particles down to about 0.5 m can be
separated where agglomeration occurs.

Two main types of cyclone separators:

 Axial- The material enters from the top of the cyclone and is
forced to move tangentially by a grate at the top

Tangential- The material enters from an inlet on the side

which is positioned tangentially to the body.

ADVANTAGES:

1. The cyclone separators are simple and inexpensive to

manufacture, and require little maintenance

2. Contains no moving parts.

3. Have the ability to operate at high temperatures and pressures

4. Unlike the slow setting within a settling tank, the pump and
cyclone separator system yields fast separation and utilizes
less space. Separations occur quickly because one g of
gravitation force is replaced by many gs of centrifugal
force.

BASIC PRINCIPLE:

The design principle for a cyclone separator is extremely simple,

yet unique. The entire process is driven by the fluid or vapor and
the contaminants themselves, coupled with an applied force to
pressurize the fluid or vapors. The pressures range from 90 to 140
psi.

The flow stream enters the body of the separator tangentially

through the inlet at the top. The mixture of solids and fluid or
vapor begins to swirl due to the circular design of the chamber and
continues swirling as it begins to work its way down the funnel
until it reaches the bottom. Materials that are denser than the
carrier medium are separated from the stream during this
downward flow and can be removed through the outlet at the
bottom of the cone.

As the mixture is circulating down the funnel it creates a

"whirlpool effect" in the middle of the cone. This causes a vortex
in the center of the cone through which the lighter flow stream
rises.

As the fluid or vapor reaches the top of the vortex, it is passing by

the difference in pressure through a tube that sticks down into the
center of the funnel. This tube is called a vortex finder. This is
needed so that the vortex fluid will not mix with the incoming
mixture of fluid and pollutants. It is necessary that the end of the
vortex finder extend below the feed inlet to reduce premature exit
of the overflow. The cleaned fluid or vapor is then either expunged
into the atmosphere or returned to the system for reuse.

The cyclone utilizes the energy obtained from fluid pressure to

create rotational fluid motion. This rotational motion causes the
materials suspended in the fluid to separate from one another or
from the fluid quickly due to the centrifugal force. The rotation is
produced by the tangential or involuted introduction of fluid into
the vessel.
 The gas enters
the top chamber
tangentially-
spirals down to
the apex of the
conical section-
moves upward in
a second, smaller
diameter spiral,
and exits at the
top through a
central vertical
pipe.

The solids move

radially to the
walls, slide down
the walls, and
are collected at
the bottom.

DESIGN:

The cyclone consists of a vertical cylinder with a conical bottom.

Cyclone separators have no moving parts. The cylindrical part is
closed at the top by a cover, through which the liquid overflow
pipe, known as the vortex finder, extends some distance into the
cyclone body. Located near the top cover is either a circular or
rectangular feed opening where liquid enters the cyclone separator
through the tangential inlet. The underflow leaves through a hole in
the apex of the cone.
APPLICATIONS:

Cyclone separator is used:

For removal of dust particles from emissions from cotton

gins, grain elevators, tractors, grain mixers, and other
agricultural machinery.

In the food industry for the separation of agglomerated

particles and for the separation of starch and protein.

For cleaning flue gases from Power Plants by the removal of

particulate material.
 For the classification of solids based on size or density

They are frequently used as protection or pre-treatment devices to

improve the performance or decrease the cost of down stream
equipment. The target industries include mineral processing,
mining, petrochemicals, oil production, waste water and effluent
treatment, food processing and pharmaceuticals.

DESIGN PROCEDURE:

1. Select either the high efficiency or high throughput design

depending on the performance required.

2. Obtain an estimate of the particle size distribution of the

solids in the screen. Estimate the number of cyclones needed
in parallel.

3. Find the cyclone diameter for a fixed inlet velocity.

4. Scale the other cyclone dimension from standard (available )

figures

5. Calculate the scale up factors based on available graphs.

6. Calculate the cyclone performance and overall efficiency

(recovery of solids). If unsatisfactory try a smaller diameter.

7. Calculate the cyclone pressure drop and, if required, select a

suitable blower.

8. Cost the system and optimize to make the best use of

pressure drop available,or , if a blower is required, to give the
lowest operating cost.
 FORMULAE USED:

Scaling Factor
d2/d1= [(Dc2/Dc1)3 * (Q1/Q2) *(1/ 2)* ( 1/ 2)]0.5

Where,
Dc1: Diameter of standard cyclone= 8 (203 mm)
Dc2: Diameter of proposed cyclone

Q1 : Standard flow rate

For high efficiency design= 223 m3/h
For high throughput design= 669 m3/h
Q2: proposed flow rate, m3/h= 0.01 m3/sec= 36 m3/h

1: solid-fluid density difference in standard conditions

2 : Density difference, proposed design

Density of fly ash= 2000 kg/ m3 at 1 atm, 20 C

Density of fly ash= 2300 kg/ m3 at 1 atm, 30 C

1 : Test viscosity fluid (air at 1 atm, 20 C)= 0.018 mN s/m 2

2 : Viscosity, proposed fluid= 0.03 mN s/m 2

d2 : Mean diameter of particle separated at proposed design, at the same

separating efficiency
d1 : Mean diameter of particle separated at standard conditions, at the
chosen separating efficiency.
DESIGN CALCULATIONS:

Case I:

Given : flow rate =0.01m3/s

Assume inlet velocity= 10 m/s

Area of inlet duct = (0.01/10)=1.0 * 10^-3 m2
(0.5*Dc2) * (0.2*Dc2) = 1.0 * 10^-3

Dc2 = 0. 1 m < 0.203 m (standard design diameter)

One high efficiency cyclone is enough.

Viscosity of gas mixture=0.03 milliNs/m2

2 : density difference =2300 kg/m3

Scaling factor =d2/d1=0.71

Mean Particle Size / Scaling Collected Grading At

Size () Wt % Efficiency % at exit
Factor Material Exit

s<5 15.00 3.52 81.00 12.15 2.85 54.59

5<s<10 19.00 10.56 94.00 17.86 1.14 21.79
10<s<20 24.00 21.13 96.00 23.04 0.96 18.35
20<s<30 14.00 35.21 98.00 13.72 0.28 5.35
30<s<40 8.00 49.30 100.00 8 0.00 0
40<s<50 5.00 63.38 100.00 5 0.00 0
50<s 15.00 70.42 100.00 15 0.00 0

For particle size > 5m :

Removal efficiency = (5) i=2 to 7 /85
= 82.62 / 85
= 95.7 % ( > 90%).
 For particle size > 10 m :
Removal efficiency = (5)i=3 to 7 / 0.66

= 96.12 % (< 99% )

Since the efficiency of removal of particles greater than 10 m in size is

less than the required efficiency of 99% we have to assume a greater inlet
velocity so that we get a smaller inlet area and hence a smaller diameter and
a higher efficiency.

Case II:
Assume inlet velocity= 15 m/s

Area of inlet duct = 6.67 * 10^-4

0.1*Dc22 = 6.67 * 10^-4
Dc2=0.082 m < 0.203 m (standard design diameter)

One high efficiency cyclone is enough.
Scaling factor = d2/d1 = 0.57

Mean Particle Size / Scaling Collected Grading At

Size (m) Wt % Efficiency % at exit
Factor Material Exit

s<5 15.00 3.25 75.00 11.25 3.75 52.3

5<s<10 19.00 9.74 92.00 17.48 1.52 21.2
10<s<20 24.00 19.48 95.00 23.28 1.20 20.1
20<s<30 14.00 32.47 97.00 13.72 0.42 5.8
30<s<40 8.00 45.45 99.50 8 0.00 0
40<s<50 5.00 58.44 100.00 5 0.00 0
50<s 15.00 64.94 100.00 15 0.00 0
 For particle size > 5m :
Removal efficiency = (5) i=2 to 7 /85
= 82.62 / 85
= 96.2 % ( > 90%).
For particle size > 10 m :
Removal efficiency = (5)i=3 to 7 / 0.66

= 97.5 % ( < 99% )

Since the efficiency of removal of particles greater than 10 m in size is still

less than the required efficiency of 99% we have to assume a greater inlet
velocity.

Case III :

Assume inlet velocity= 20 m/s

Area of inlet duct =5 * 10^-4 m2
0.1*Dc22= 5 * 10^-4
Dc = 0.071 m < 0.203 m (standard design diameter)

o One high efficiency cyclone is enough.

o Scaling factor =d2/d1=0.42

For particle size > 5m :

Removal efficiency = (5) i=2 to 7 /85
= 97.42% ( > 90%).
For particle size > 10 m :
Removal efficiency = (5)i=3 to 7 / 0.66
= 98.6% ( < 99% )
 Mean Particle Size / Scaling Collected Grading At
Size () Wt % Efficiency % at exit
Factor Material Exit

s<5 15.00 4.04 78 11.7 3.3 57.98

5<s<10 19.00 12.1 93 17.67 1.33 23.37

10<s<20 24.00 24.2 97 23.28 0.92 1 6.17

20<s<30 14.00 40.3 99 13.86 0.14 2.46

30<s<40 8.00 56.5 100 8 0 0

40<s<50 5.00 72.6 100 5 0 0

50<s 15.00 80.6 100 15 0 0

Since the efficiency of removal of particles greater than 10 m in size is still

less than the required efficiency of 99% we have to assume a greater inlet
velocity.
Case IV :

Assume inlet velocity= 25 m/s

Area of inlet duct = 4*10^-4 m2

0.1*Dc22 = 4*10^-4

Dc = 0.063 m < 0.203 m (standard design diameter)

o One high efficiency cyclone is enough.

o Scaling factor =d2/d1=0.37

 Mean Particle
Particle Size Collected Grading At
Wt % Size/Scaling % Efficiency % At Exit
(m) material Exit
Factor

s<5 15.00 4.81 86.00 12.90 2.10 57.98

5<s<10 19.00 14.42 94.00 17.86 1.14 23.37
10<s<20 24.00 28.85 97.00 23.28 0.72 16.17
20<s<30 14.00 48.08 99.50 13.93 0.07 2.46
30<s<40 8.00 67.31 100.00 8.00 0.00 0.00
40<s<50 5.00 86.54 100.00 5.00 0.00 0.00
50<s 15.00 96.15 100.00 15.00 0.00 0.00

For particle size > 5m :
Removal efficiency = (5)i=2 to 7 /0.85

= 97.73% ( > 90%).

For particle size > 10 m :
Removal efficiency = (5)i=3 to 7 / 0.66

= 98.9% ( 99% )

Therefore, the cyclone can remove particles with the desired

efficiency when we use an inlet velocity of 25 m/s
CALCULATION OF PRESSURE DROP:

Pressure Drop Formula

(p) = (f /203)*{u12 [1+22(2rt/re -1 )] + 2u22}

where,
p: pressure drop
f : gas density = 0.8 kg/m3
u1 : inlet duct velocity
u2 : exit duct velocity

rt :radius of circle to which centre line of the inlet is tangential

re :radius of exit pipe
: Pressure drop correction factor

For inlet velocity = 25 m/s

Area of inlet duct, = 4*10^-4 m2
Dc = 0.063 m

Cyclone surface area, As = *Dc*( 1.5*Dc) + *Dc*( 2.52*Dc)

= 50125.3 mm2

= f cAs/ Ai= 0.005*49875.92/0.0004= 0.623

rt/re= (63- (12/2))/31.5= 1.81

From the graph 2,

= 1.1

u1= 25 m/s
u2= 36/3600*4/(*0.03152)= 7.574 m/s

p= (f /203)*{u12 [1+22(2rt/re -1 )] + 2u22}= 823.01 N/m2=8.23 millibar

So we are getting a reasonable pressure drop.

FINAL DESIGN:

Diameter of cyclone = Dc = 0.063 m

Flow inlet area =0.5Dc*0.2Dc = 4*E-4 m2
Cylindrical length = 1.5 Dc = 0.0945 m
Conical section ht.=2.5Dc = 0.1575 m
Conical end diameter=0.375Dc = 0.0236 m
Outlet diameter = 0.5Dc = 0.0315 m
Collecting Hopper diameter =Dc =0.063 m

REFERENCES:

1. Chemical engineering, volume 6-Coulson and Richardson

2. www.wsu.edu
3. www.flyash.info
4. www.engr.pitt.edu