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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113780
Title: ENTRANCE VELOCITY OPTIMIZATION FOR MODIFIED DUST CYCLONES

Author
item Funk, Paul
item Hughs, Sidney
item Holt, Gregory

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2000
Publication Date: 12/1/2000
Citation: Funk, P.A., Hughs, S.E., Holt, G.A. Entrance Velocity Optimization for Modified Dust Cyclones. The Journal of Cotton Science. 2000. v. 4. p. 178-182.

Interpretive Summary: Dust cyclones are a cost effective way to clean the air that transports materials within a cotton gin before it is released to the atmosphere. Operating cyclones at the proper entrance velocity is important to maximize their dust collection efficiency. Operating cyclones at the proper entrance velocity is also important because fan motors pushing air through cyclones consume a significant portion of the energy used by a modern cotton gin. Design recommendations for dust cyclones are different now than they were when cyclone operating parameters were first studied. Therefore re-examining entrance velocity seemed timely since many gins employ recently recommended entrance (2D2D style) and trash outlet (D/3 size) designs. Cyclones modified according to the new design recommendations were tested at from 2600 to 3500 feet per minute entrance air velocity. The published recommended entrance velocity value for standard cyclone designs was found to work well with modified cyclones. This test also confirmed the advantages of employing the currently recommended design modifications. Dust collection efficiency improved significantly with either modification.

Technical Abstract: Entrance air velocity impacts both the fan energy consumption and the dust collection efficiency of cotton gin cyclones. Recent findings have resulted in changes in cyclone design recommendations. Entrance air velocity was varied on both conventional and modified cyclones to determine whether air velocity recommendations need to be updated for the new designs. High efficiency 1D3D cyclones 30 cm (12 in) in diameter were constructed with standard and 2D2D inlets and with D/4 and D/3 trash outlets. Four levels of entrance air velocity were tested from 13.2 to 17.8 m/s (2600 to 3500 ft/min). Dust collection efficiency was determined by weighing filters through which cyclone exhaust air had passed. There was not a statistically significant difference in dust collection due to entrance air velocity. Cyclone modifications clearly improved performance. Pressure drop, which relates to fan energy requirements, increased linearly with entrance air velocity. There is insufficient evidence based on dust collection efficiency to change velocity recommendations for either standard or modified 1D3D cyclones. However, the potential exists to save energy by reducing entrance velocity.