Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199508
Title: EFFECTS OF CYCLONE DIAMETER ON PERFORMANCE OF 1D3D CYCLONES: COLLECTION EFFICIENCY

Author
item FAULKNER, WILLIAM - TEXAS A&M AG & BIO ENG
item Buser, Michael
item Whitelock, Derek
item SHAW, BRYAN - TEXAS A&M AG & BIO ENG

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2006
Publication Date: 7/31/2006
Citation: Faulkner, W.B., Buser, M.D., Whitelock, D.P., Shaw, B.W. 2006. Effects of cyclone diameter on performance of 1D3D cyclones: Collection efficiency. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Paper No. 064165.

Interpretive Summary: As agricultural air quality regulations become more stringent, the need for well designed dust abatement devices has become more important. Cyclones are the most commonly used air pollution abatement device for separating dust from air streams in agricultural processes. A basic assumption in cyclone design has been that the size of the cyclone has little effect on the dust collection efficiency of the cyclone. Tests showed that this assumption may not always be valid. Smaller research cyclones were more effective at removing very fine dust from an air stream than larger, full-size cyclones. More research is needed on coarser dust, the kind more typically found in agricultural systems. Results from this research will provide agricultural engineers and researchers with better information about the relationship between cyclone diameter and cyclone dust collection efficiency, ultimately resulting in better designs and enhancing agricultural industries’ ability to comply with local and federal air quality regulations.

Technical Abstract: Cyclones are the most commonly used air pollution abatement device for separating particulate matter (PM) from air streams in agricultural processes, such as cotton gins. Several mathematical models have been proposed to predict the performance of cyclones as cyclone diameter varies. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between cyclone diameter and collection efficiency based on empirical data. Tests were performed comparing cyclone collection efficiency of 15.24-, 30.48-, 60.96-, and 91.44-cm (6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-in.) diameter cyclones with poly-disperse PM having an aerodynamic mass median diameter near 10 um. The mass of PM collected by the cyclones and the mass of PM that penetrated the cyclones was used to determine the collection efficiency of each cyclone. The collection efficiency of cyclones decreased nonlinearly as cyclone diameter increased, with statistically different collection efficiencies observed among the 30.48-, 60.96-, and 91.44-cm (6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-in.) diameter cyclones. None of the mathematical models analyzed in this paper accurately predicted cyclone performance.