Performance evaluation of cyclone models for similar body diameter and flowrate using CFD

Abstract The present study performs numerical simulations of a few popular medium-to-high efficiency cyclone models viz. Stairmand cyclone, Swift cyclone, Patterson-Munz cyclone, Obermair cyclone, and Lapple cyclone to compare their performance. The reason to undertake this study is that these models are widely used for benchmark studies or for the validation by the researchers. Earlier, all these geometries were investigated experimentally by respective inventors that bear different sizes. Hence, for the sake of performance comparison, the diameter ( D = 0.29 m) and a volume flow rate ( Q = 0.135401 m 3 /s) of the fluid in all the models is the same - the latter is used to calculate the inlet velocity in each cyclone model. We have not considered a similar Reynolds number condition for comparison as it will change the volume flow rate of the flow. Apart from the pressure drop and collection efficiency values, we present the details of the flow field inside each model. Conclusive results indicate that the Patterson-Munz cyclone has the lowest pressure drop while the Swift cyclone has the highest collection efficiency. Interestingly, the cut-off diameter in the swift cyclone is found to be minimum.