Abstract:
Cyclones are one of the most extensively used gas
cleaning equipment in the industry. Current empirical model
based cyclone designs and performance prediction have many
limitations due to complex nature of the gas-solid flow field.
Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation could be useful
to predict cyclone performance as an alternative approach. This
paper represents a CFD simulation of a Lapple cyclone separator
using OpenFOAM software. The flow field of cyclone was
obtained by using Reynolds averaged Navier-Stockes equations
combine with k-ε closure model. Flow field pressure and velocity
distribution were obtained from the simulation and they were
compared with the literature to evaluate the model validity.
Multiphase Particle in Cell (MPPIC) method was used for the
particle modeling, in which particle interactions with other
particles were represented by models. Tangential gas velocity
profile, pressure drop and particulate collection efficiency of
cyclone obtained from the model were comparable to
experimental results in the literature. Optimum values for inlet
gas-solid velocity and particulate loading rate for the Lapple
cyclone were obtained by this analysis. Pressure drop variation
with gas-solid inlet velocity which has been obtained by this
analysis could be useful to minimize the energy requirement
while maintaining the required collection efficiency.
Citation:
M. S. M. De Silva and M. Narayana, "Analysis and derivation of optimum operating conditions of Lapple cyclone separator by using CFD," 2016 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon), 2016, pp. 204-209, doi: 10.1109/MERCon.2016.7480140.