Iran Occupational Health

  Background and aims: Extensive industrial and production activities are one of the major sources of dust. In many cases, cyclones are used as the control measure. The removal efficiency of dust in cyclones depends on different factors. Some of these factors are, the design parameters, e.g. cyclone diameter, particle density, operating temperature and fluid physical properties, density of gas flow, viscosity and inlet velocity of fluid. There are some studies by parameters simulation approach as mathematical models. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interaction of the main factors on the particle removal efficiency and other discussed factors, particularly the structural properties of a cyclone completely in experimental scale.

  Method: The ASTM D3685 method was used in whichsampling condition and duct’s size and geometric diameter was in accordance with the cyclone. For conducting different stages of sampling in the laboratory, a cyclone (as physical model) with the flexibility of changing the inlet angle and vortex finder height was constructed. The removal efficiency of dust in the cyclone was examined with changing the design parameters.

  Results: The effect of cyclone inlet angle changes and pressure loss on dust removal was observed simultaneously in the new designed cyclone. It indicates that optimized efficiency of 60 – 90% was obtained in pressure of 8 - 9.5 mmH₂o and inlet angle of 60 - 90 degree for total particle below 10 micron (PM₁₀).

  Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that utilizing this cyclone model may assist in controlling the problems involving emission processes with the potential of particle generation which have 1-10 micron aerodynamic diameter.