Performance investigation of the combined series and parallel arrangement cyclone separator using experimental and CFD approach

Abstract The aerosol sampling industries and chemical industries are utilizing multi-cyclones for separating micron size particulates from gas or air medium. In this work, four cyclone separators are fabricated. These four cyclone separators have been arranged in a parallel manner for investigating the collection efficiency. The magnesium particles are used to predict the collection efficiency with different sizes (Range 1 μm to 7 μm). Afterwards, the collection efficiency has been estimated through an experimental analysis for the average mean particle size of 3.13 μm. These experimental results are compared with numerical simulation results. The CFD approach has been used for the numerical simulation and flow pattern analysis. The flow pattern results are depicted that the first cyclone collects large size particles and adjacent cyclones collect smaller size particles. Moreover, the experimental results were mapped with flow pattern outcomes. It is observed that the good conformity is obtained between these two analysis. The predicted pressure drop in the experimental and numerical analysis is 153 N/m2 and 146.46 N/m2 respectively. Moreover, the collection efficiency is fine when the particle sizes are existing at 7 μm for this series and parallel arrangement cyclone.