Modeling the Effects of the Vortex Finder Height on Pressure Drop in the Cyclone Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

Simulations using computational fluid dynamics techniques were performed intending to analyze the effect of the height of the vortex finder on the pressure drop of cyclone separators. Three cyclones were studied with 0.25 m diameter, varying the height of the vortex finder at 0.122, 0.367 and 0.612 m. The experimental data used in validation of the simulations were obtained from the literature. The modeling was done in 3D transient. K-epsilon and Reynolds stress models are used to simulate a turbulence inside the cyclone. Profiles and isosurfaces show a pressure drop and turbulent kinetic energy. The pressure drop decreases with increasing height of the vortex finder. The average deviation between the simulation results and experimental data is less than 7% using RSM turbulence model and 13% using RNG K-epsilonturbulence model.