Numerical simulation of 3-D strongly swirling turbulent flow in a cyclone separator

The three-dimensional strongly swirling turbulent flow in a cyclone separator with a volute inlet was simulated to optimize the design by improving the pressure-strain generation and convection terms isotropization of production and convection +wall reflection model of the Reynolds stress equation in FLUENT 6.0. Good agreement was obtained between the predictions and experiments in the separation space and the dust hopper. The annular space prediction results were close to the measurements, with both showing non-axi-symmetric flows. In the vortex finder the agreement between predictions and measurements is poor, indicating that the turbulence model still needs further improvement.