CYCLONE COLLECTOR/SEPARATOR

It is the instrument used to estimate the dust or suspended particulate matter

present in the gaseous state. It works on the principle of centrifugal force. A
cyclone collector consists of a cylindrical shell, conical vase, dust hopper and an
inlet where the dust laden gas enters tangentially. Under the influence of the
centrifugal force generated by the spinning gas, the solid particles are thrown to the
walls of the cyclone as the gas spirals upward at the inside of the cone. The
particles slide down the walls of the cone and into the hopper.

The operating or separating efficiency of a cyclone collector depends on the

magnitude of the centrifugal force exerted on the particles. The greater the
centrifugal force, the greater the separating efficiency. The magnitude of the
centrifugal force depends on the particle mass, gas velocity within the cyclone
collector and the cyclone diameter.
Fc =m p *

Vi2
R

...(1)
Where, Fc = centrifugal force, mp = particulate mass
V i2
R

= centrifugal acceleration, vi = particulate velocity

R = radius of cyclone
From equation (1), the centrifugal force on the particles and the efficiency of the
cyclone collector can be increased by decreasing the radius of the cyclone (R).
Large diameter cyclones have good efficiency for the particles 40-50 m in
diameter. High efficiency cyclone with diameter of 23cm (9inch) or less have good
efficiency for particles from 15-20m.
Multiple cyclones operating in parallel are necessary to treat large flow when a
small diameter cyclones are used. The cleaning efficiency for such type of units
may be as high as 90% for particulates in the 5-10m range. The smaller radius of
the cones not only increase the centrifugal force but also reduce the distance the
particles have to travel to reach the collection chamber. A small cyclones do have
some disadvantage such as problems with equalizing gas flow to each cone.
Abrasion of tubes due to high velocity and plugging of heavily loaded tubes.
Cyclones are usually built to standard relative dimensions as shown in the figure.
The size of this particle is determined by the following equation based on
the work by Lapple,
d 50

9..b
( 2.N
e. V i. p )

..... (2)

Where, d50 = diameter of the particle i.e., collected with 50% efficiency (m)
b = width of the cyclone inlet (meters, m)
Ne = number of effective terms with the cyclone
Vi = inlet gas velocity (m/sec)
p = density of the particulate matter (kg/m3)
The collection efficiency of the particles both larger and smaller than d 50 is
determined by their ratio to d50.

The reference particle is usually taken as the particles that will be removed with
50% efficiency on weight basis.