The effect of vortex finder heights on separation efficiency of a dust cyclone

Abstract

The effect of vortex finder heights on the separation efficiency of a dust cyclone was experimentally investigated in the present study. The separation efficiency of three cyclones with different vortex finder heights was measured as a function of the particle size of dust and velocity of air. Husk ash was used as dust particles in the air. Three values of vortex finder heights of cyclone were investigated, 30, 50 and 70 mm. The inlet velocities of air were varied from 6.61, 7.35, 8.06 to 8.81 m/s. The diameters of husk ash particles were classified into four ranges, 0-150, 150-250, 250-500 and 500-850 m. The experimental results revealed that the separation efficiency of the dust cyclones increased when the particle size of husk ash and the air velocity were increased for all of vortex finder heights. A vortex finder height of 50 mm was observed to have better separation efficiency than the others for all air velocities and particle sizes. The maximum separation efficiencies with a vortex finder height of 50 mm and an air velocity of 8.81 m/s for the aforementioned particle size ranges were found 98.85, 99.51, 99.69 and 99.91%, respectively.