Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184 191

www.elsevier.com/locate/powtec

A universal model to calculate cyclone pressure drop

Jianyi Chen a,, Mingxian Shi b
a
Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Dongying, Shandong, China 257061
b
School of Petrochemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China 102200

Received 8 February 2006; received in revised form 4 September 2006; accepted 27 September 2006;
Available online 7 October 2006

Abstract

The definition and composition of the pressure drop over a tangential inlet, reverse flow cyclone have been analyzed. It is assumed that two
factors mainly contribute to the pressure drop, i.e., the local loss and the loss along the distance. The former includes the expansion loss at the
cyclone inlet and the contraction loss at the entrance of the outlet tube (or vortex finder). The latter consists of the swirling loss resulting from
friction at the cyclone walls and the dissipation of gas dynamic energy in the outlet tube. By use of the measured results of the flow field in
cyclones, the calculation methods for each loss have been developed. And a universal model to predict the cyclone pressure drop is thus obtained
simply by summing each loss. A detailed comparison between the calculated and experimental results shows that this accurate model is suitable
either for pure or for dust laden gases at normal or high temperatures and can meet the requirement of most cyclone designs.
2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Cyclone separator; Pressure drop; Calculation; Model

1. Introduction determination of the pressure drop of cyclones working at

Cyclone separators have been the most common devices for the
removal of dispersed particles from their carrying gases because of
their simple structure, low cost and ease of operation. The pressure
drop is one of the two important performance parameters. Many
researchers [17] have developed different procedures to estimate
the pressure drop of cyclones. Most of the procedures, however,
are empirical and suitable only for pure gases, and not very
satisfactory in generality. Additionally, the pressure drop of a
cyclone under the condition of dust-laden gases or high
temperature gases is of importance, and moreover it is much
different from that under the condition of normal and pure gases.
Briggs [8] found that the pressure drop decreases with an
increase of the dust loading. Muschelknautz [6], Yuu [9],
Hoffmann [10] and Luo [11] not only verified Briggs' findings
but also discovered other interesting phenomena. For example,
Muschelknautz [6] and Luo [11] found that the pressure drop
falls with the rise of the dust loading until one turning point is
reached at which the pressure drop begins to increase. As for the
elevated temperatures, only very little experimental data have
been reported, which are insufficient for a correct evaluation of
the temperature effect on the pressure drop. Bohnet [12]
observed that either the pressure drop or the drag coefficient
decreases with an increase of gas temperature. Xu [13] and Chen
[14] also confirmed such an observation. The prediction of the
pressure drop over a cyclone dealing with high temperature or
dust-laden gases, however, has not been well solved.
The present paper analyses the definition and composition of
the pressure drop over a tangential inlet, reverse flow cyclone,
and then establishes a universal model for its prediction by
employing the measured flow fields in cyclones. It is shown that
the present model is good in accuracy and suitable for the
prediction of the pressure drop over cyclones operating with
pure or dust-laden gases at normal or high temperatures.
2. Definition and composition of the pressure drop
2.1. Definition of the pressure drop

Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 546 8393034; fax: +86 546 8393914. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a most commonly used,
E-mail address: jychhj@hdpu.edu.cn (J. Chen). tangential inlet and reverse flow cyclone. Generally, the
0032-5910/$ - see front matter 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.powtec.2006.09.014
 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191
Fig. 1. Sketch of a reverse flow cyclone separator.
pressure drop over a cyclone is the difference of static pressure
between the inlet and the outlet, which can be written as:
DP Psi Pso
The static pressure at the inlet cross-section is uniformly
distributed because there is no swirling motion. It can be easily
measured with a pressure tapping in the wall. But the static
pressure at the outlet wall is quite different from its cross-
sectional average due to the strong swirling flow. The dynamic
pressure stored in the swirling motion can be significant. The
determination of the static pressure downstream of a cyclone,
hence the pressure drop, becomes more complicated and
difficult. In the past, this problem has been approached in
several ways. Stairmand [4] presumably measured the static
pressure at the outlet wall immediately downstream of a cyclone
as he ignored the influence of the swirl. Shepherd and Lapple [1]
discharged the gas directly from the cyclone to atmosphere
(taking the downstream pressure as the ambient pressure).
Meissner and Lffler [15] measured the static pressure after a
Fig. 2. (a). Slot inlet. (b). Volute inlet.
185
Fig. 3. The axial velocity near the cyclone outlet.
flow rectifier. Hoffmann [10] observed that the static pressure at
the outlet wall is close to the static pressure that would be
measured after an ideal rectifier. Therefore, the static pressure at
the wall of the outlet tube minus the static pressure at the inlet
gives the true dissipative loss or the pressure drop of a cyclone.
The latter three ways have been widely used in research and
engineering practices. And the pressure drop in this paper is
defined as Eq. (1) and taken in a way similar to that of Meissner
and Lffler.
2.2. Composition of the pressure drop
The pressure drop over a cyclone consists of a local loss and
a frictional loss (or a loss along the distance). The local loss
includes an expansion loss at the cyclone inlet, P1, and a
1 contraction loss at the entrance of the outlet tube, P2. The
frictional loss includes a swirling loss due to the friction be-
tween the gas flow and the cyclone wall, P3, and a dissipation
loss of the gas dynamic energy in the outlet, P4. Therefore, the
pressure drop can be expressed as:
DP DP1 DP2 DP3 DP4 2
3. Method for pure gases
3.1. The expansion loss at the cyclone inletP1
The gas flow will expand both radially and axially after
entering a cyclone, resulting in a local expansion loss. For a
slot inlet, the radial expansion loss is a function of the variable
b / (R re). But for a volute inlet, the radial expansion loss is a
function of the variable b / (R + b c~b re), where c~ = c / b and
Fig. 4. The tangential and axial velocity in the cyclone outlet.
186 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191

Table 1
Comparison between measured and calculated drag coefficients under normal temperature and pure gas conditions
~
Model D/m a/D b/D KA dr S/D H1 / D H/D dc / D
Stairmand 0.305 0.50 0.22 7.14 0.45 0.50 2.5 5.0 0.375
0.305 0.35 0.31 7.14 0.39 0.35 2.5 5.0 0.375
0.305 0.50 0.20 7.85 0.50 0.50 1.5 4.0 0.375
0.610 0.25 0.13 25.12 0.50 1.50 2.0 4.0 0.375
1.524 0.60 0.25 5.23 0.50 1.50 2.0 4.0 0.375
4.572 0.67 0.13 8.83 0.33 0.40 1.1 2.0 0.375
Stern 0.335 0.61 0.32 4.05 0.56 0.91 1.4 2.7 0.400
Lapple 0.287 0.53 0.23 6.31 0.52 1.60 2.1 4.3 0.250
0.287 0.53 0.11 13.87 0.52 1.60 2.1 4.3 0.250
PV 0.300 0.56 0.25 5.50 0.32 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.400 0.49 0.22 7.20 0.32 0.49 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.400 0.49 0.22 7.20 0.25 0.49 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.400 0.56 0.26 5.48 0.32 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.400 0.56 0.26 5.48 0.44 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.400 0.64 0.29 4.18 0.32 0.64 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.600 0.56 0.26 5.45 0.32 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.600 0.56 0.26 5.45 0.24 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.600 0.56 0.26 5.45 0.44 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.600 0.49 0.22 7.33 0.32 0.49 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.600 0.64 0.29 4.26 0.44 0.64 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.800 0.56 0.25 5.51 0.45 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.800 0.56 0.25 5.51 0.31 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.800 0.56 0.25 5.51 0.25 0.56 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.800 0.49 0.22 7.20 0.31 0.49 1.6 3.8 0.400
0.800 0.64 0.29 4.26 0.31 0.64 1.6 3.8 0.400
1.200 0.48 0.22 7.48 0.25 0.48 1.6 3.8 0.400
1.200 0.55 0.25 5.65 0.25 0.55 1.6 3.8 0.400
1.200 0.55 0.25 5.65 0.31 0.55 1.6 3.8 0.400
1.200 0.55 0.25 5.65 0.44 0.55 1.6 3.8 0.400

Note: (0)
p this method; p Shepherd and Lapple [1]; p First [2]; p Alexander [3]; p Stairmand [4]; p Barth [5]; p Muschelknautz [6]; p
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Casal [7].

c is the width of the inlet cutting into the cyclone body, see 3.2. The contraction loss at the entrance of the outlet tube P2
Fig. 2. And the radial expansion loss can be expressed as [16]:
The contraction loss at the entrance of the outlet tube (or
 2 vortex finder) occurs because of an abrupt reduction of the
b qg Vi2
DP1r 1 flow area when gases enter the outlet tube from the separation
R bec bre 2 space of a cyclone. According to the axial velocity profile in
the separation space [17], the axial flow can be divided into an
The axial expansion loss, however, is not as easy to upward flow and a downward flow, as shown in Fig. 3. And
determine. For the sake of simplicity, a correction coefficient, the flow areas of the upward and downward flow are roughly
ki, is employed to account for the contribution of the axial 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the cross-sectional area of the cyclone barrel,
expansion loss. ki is less than unity and its usual value is 0.3. As respectively.
p It means that their interfacial radius approx-
a result, the expansion loss at the cyclone inlet, P1, can be imates 3R=3, or the averaged axial velocity of the upward
expressed as follows: flow is equal to 3Vi / KA. Consequently, P2 can be expressed
as [16]
 2
b qg Vi2  
DP1 1ki   2 13 de r qg V 2
2
R bec bre 2  2 qg 3Vi
DP2 0:5 13 der 4:5 i
4
2 KA KA2 2
A volute inlet changes to a slot inlet when c~ = 1. For common
designs, c~ is not less than 1 / 3. With the sizes being non- 3.3. The swirling lossP3
dimensionalized by the cyclone barrel diameter D, it is obtained
that: The friction between the gas flow and the cyclone wall due to
 2 the gas viscosity will result in a loss of swirling energy, which is
2ki be qg Vi2
DP1 1 3 defined as the swirling loss of a cyclone here. Because of this
1 1:33 e b der 2 viscous friction, the tangential flow in a cyclone is a combination
 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191 187

Vi/m/s m (0)
p (1)
p (2)
p (3)
p (4)
p (5)
p (6)
p (7)
p

9.28 8.70 8.04 8.69 7.08 5.84 7.35 6.47 7.10 5.66
9.28 9.07 9.97 11.60 9.44 6.73 10.16 8.93 11.00 8.27
5.05 5.68 5.90 6.40 6.18 5.23 5.26 5.41 5.71 4.14
15.07 3.38 2.98 2.00 1.89 2.65 1.77 2.90 2.04 2.51
16.07 10.60 8.68 9.60 9.07 6.00 9.55 8.85 8.39 6.40
16.15 11.40 13.49 12.80 19.57 14.26 19.96 16.79 11.09 9.56
16.07 7.25 8.45 9.76 11.91 5.62 7.81 9.37 10.45 6.54
14.97 7.19 5.49 7.33 6.65 4.89 5.92 6.74 6.41 4.70
28.42 3.68 3.65 3.33 3.02 3.55 2.69 3.62 2.77 2.82
20.00 20.30 20.85 23.01 22.69 17.01 20.86 22.05 22.00 25.71
17.62 17.90 16.97 17.58 17.34 13.23 16.88 16.44 15.50 15.97
17.43 26.89 26.86 29.06 28.66 23.90 29.63 29.49 28.21 39.61
18.89 21.74 22.22 23.10 22.78 17.07 22.18 22.14 22.11 25.88
16.66 11.77 11.62 11.73 11.57 7.92 10.29 10.12 10.71 8.41
14.48 27.28 28.56 30.28 29.86 22.73 29.08 29.66 32.11 42.81
14.98 22.56 22.85 23.08 22.76 17.03 23.76 22.10 22.11 25.84
13.15 37.78 41.30 40.69 40.12 36.49 45.55 43.72 45.83 75.40
14.95 13.15 12.31 11.85 11.68 7.98 10.95 10.22 10.82 8.53
18.04 18.06 17.98 17.16 16.92 12.94 17.67 16.01 15.05 15.33
15.27 14.70 15.22 15.24 15.03 9.45 14.09 13.11 14.56 12.58
17.90 13.76 13.02 11.51 11.35 7.78 11.02 9.91 10.50 8.18
16.48 24.35 24.76 23.42 23.09 17.39 25.54 22.51 22.45 26.53
15.58 38.67 39.71 36.77 36.25 31.61 43.32 38.68 39.84 61.99
17.14 20.02 19.55 17.92 17.67 13.51 19.55 16.80 15.83 16.51
16.93 30.20 32.43 30.29 29.87 22.85 33.04 29.75 32.03 42.82
17.01 30.85 31.40 26.85 26.48 21.74 34.79 26.87 25.38 34.16
21.90 43.18 43.73 35.56 35.06 30.28 46.07 37.20 37.96 58.13
13.11 25.18 25.25 23.12 22.80 17.22 27.44 22.23 22.04 25.93
18.00 13.16 13.98 11.48 11.32 7.84 11.72 9.92 10.43 8.15
7.3 10 2.1 10 5.0 10 8.0 10 4.2 10 2.9 10 3.3 10 1.3 10
3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1

of a quasi-free vortex and a quasi-forced vortex, instead of a cyclone hopper, and the swirling velocity is only somewhat
combination of a free vortex and a forced vortex. Referring to the slightly less than in the separation space [17,18]. It means that
theories by Barth [5] and Muschelknautz [6], the swirling loss can there is also friction at the wall of the cyclone hopper, which will
be calculated by the following equation: lead to an additional pressure loss. This friction loss is accounted
for simply by adding the surface area of the cyclone hopper into
Fs in this paper, and thus
f0 Fs qg Vhw Vhe 1:5
DP3 5
2  0:9Qi p  2 2
Fs D De pDe S pDH1
~ ~ 4 s
where Qi = abVi = D2Vi / 4KA, Vw = V wVi and Ve = V eVi. Qi 8
stands for the inlet gas flow rate. For a quasi-free vortex flow, p Ddc 2
D dc H22 pDb Hb
2 4
Vehe Vehw re n e e n
e V hw d r : 6
Fs can also be non-dimensionalized as
Eq. (5) is transformed into:
4Fs  
Fes 1 e 2r 4 der Se 4 He1
d
4KA f0 FsVe hw
3
qg Vi2 pD2 q
DP3 7    2
0:9pD2 de 1:5n 1 d c 4 He2 1 dec 4 D
e eb Heb
2
r 2

1:5n qg Vi2
DP3 1:11f0 KA FesVehw de r
3
Where Fs is the total area of the contact surfaces between the and 9
gas flow and the cyclone wall. Usually Fs is the sum of the top 2
cover area, the surface area of the cyclone barrel and cone, and the
external surface area of the outlet tube. However, experimental Where f0 is the friction coefficient between a pure gas flow
results showed that there also exists a swirling motion in the and a cyclone wall. For a steel cyclone f0 = 0.005 and for
188 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191

cyclones having a different roughness of wall surface the value pressure drop over a cyclone in most cases) that it can be omitted
of f0 can be determined as specified in reference [6]. for the sake of simplicity. Therefore the above expression can be
shortened as
3.4. The dissipation loss of the gas dynamic energy in the  2
2ki eb 1:5n
1:11f0 KAFesVeh w de r
outletP4 3
n 1 15
1 1:33 be der
In the outlet tube, the gas tangential velocity is still very high
e 2hw
V 1
and the tangential gas flow is also a combination of a quasi-free
vortex and a quasi-forced vortex. The swirl flow does not decay rc der n KA2 de2r e
e r 2c 2
significantly in the outlet tube. The axial velocity, however, is
totally different from that in the separation space. In the vicinity Now the pressure drop or the drag coefficient over a cyclone
of the swirl center the axial velocity is very low, but it becomes can be determined by Eq. (15) if the dimensions of and the
quite high in the annular region near the outlet wall, see Fig. 4 tangential velocity in a cyclone are known.
[18]. Most of the gas flows axially through this region. It is Take a Model PV cyclone as an example. The measured
natural to divide the gas flow in the outlet tube into two regions: results of its flow field showed that rc is normally 0.50.6 times
a core region, in which the axial velocity is assumed as zero, and the radius of the outlet tube [17,18]. Furthermore, when non-
an annular region in which the axial velocity is uniformly dimensionalized, rc can be correlated with a dimensionless
distributed. The tangential flow conforms to the law of a quasi- diameter of the cyclone outlet, dr, as follows
forced vortex in the core region and of a quasi-free vortex in the
annular region, respectively.
rec 0:38 der 0:5 de r
2
16
Assuming that rc is the radius of the boundary between the
core and the annular region, the axial velocity in the annular
region is then as follows: In addition, the dimensionless tangential velocity at the
cyclone wall is
4Qi D2 1
Vze Vi Vi 10
pDe Dc KA De Dc
2 2 2 2
KA der rec2
2
1:11KA0:21de r Re0:06
0:16
Vehw p 17
1 f0 Fes KAder
The non-dimensional tangential velocity at the radius, rc, is

Where Re is the cyclone outlet Reynolds number and can be

Vehc Vehw er cn 11 defined as

According to the transportation law of the moment-of- qg Ve De qg Vi D

Re 18
momentum of gas rotation, the mean tangential velocity in the lg lg KAder
outlet tube can be approximately expressed as
And the swirl exponent n can also be correlated with Re by
p the following equation
V h Vhc Vhe Vehw erc ree 0:5n Vi Vehw e
rc der 0:5n Vi 12
"   #
Consequently, the pressure loss due to the dynamic dissi- n 1 exp 0:26Re 0:12
1
Sa 0:5
b j j 19
pation or P4 is
3.5. Calculation and comparison
" 2 #
qg 2 Ve hw 1 qg Vi2
DP4 Vh Vze
2
13 Table 1 lists the measured and calculated drag coefficients
2 rc der n KA2 e
e 2
d r erc2 2 2
of dozens of cyclones operated under ambient temperature and
Now the pressure drop over a cyclone, P, can be easily pure gas conditions. The calculation is accomplished by using
obtained by summation of P1 P4. But it is more often to Eqs. (15)(19) and assuming ki = 0.3 and f0 = 0.005. For
use the drag coefficient, , which is derived as Model Stairmand, Stern and Lapple cyclones, the measured
 2 results are cited from the corresponding references, while for
2ki e
b 4:513 der Model PV cyclones the measurements are taken elsewhere by
n 1
1 1:33ebe
dr KA2 the authors. All the test gases were ambient air. The calculated
14 drag coefficients by other researchers are also listed for
Ve
2
1:5n 1
1:11f0 KAFesVehw der
3 comparison. The accuracy of the present method is satisfactory
hw n
rc der
e 2 e 2
KA d r erc2 2 except for few cases. In average, the mean square deviation
between the measured and calculated results of the present
A detailed calculation showed that the second term in Eq. (14), method is less than that of other methods by one or two orders
i.e., the contraction loss, is so small (not more than 1% the of magnitude.
 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191 189

Table 2
Comparison between measured and calculated drag coefficients at different gas temperatures
~
D/m KA dr Vi/m/s T/K g /kg/m3 m (0)
p (1)
p (2)
p (3)
p (4)
p (5)
p (6)
p (7)
p

0.300 5.50 0.315 20.00 303 1.08 20.30 20.85 23.01 22.69 17.01 20.86 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 19.62 470 0.69 19.30 18.52 23.01 22.69 17.01 18.55 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 20.11 685 0.49 18.40 17.00 23.01 22.69 17.01 16.59 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 16.14 676 0.49 18.40 16.50 23.01 22.69 17.01 16.66 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 36.29 973 0.34 17.40 16.98 23.01 22.69 17.01 14.85 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 28.24 973 0.34 16.60 16.40 23.01 22.69 17.01 14.85 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 19.82 973 0.34 17.10 15.63 23.01 22.69 17.01 14.85 22.05 22.00 25.71
0.300 5.50 0.315 16.56 973 0.34 17.20 15.27 23.01 22.69 17.01 14.85 22.05 22.00 25.71

Listed in Table 2 is a comparison between the measured and
calculated drag coefficients of a Model PV cyclone operated at
different temperatures. The values of ki and f0 used in Table 2
are assumed to be the same as in Table 1. The gas is normal
pressure air. Obviously the calculated results agree very well
with the measured ones. In fact, the rise of gas temperature will
lead to a decrease of gas density and an increase of gas
viscosity, both of which contribute to a weaker swirling motion
and consequently result in a reduction of the swirling loss in the
separation space and the dissipation loss in the outlet. It is
indicated that the drag coefficient and the temperature can be
correlated with simply through a Reynolds number, Re, which
has an influence on the swirl exponent and tangential velocity
at the cyclone wall.
4. Method for dust-laden gases
The calculation of the pressure drop over a cyclone for
dust-laden gases is more complicated and has not been well
solved, though Briggs [10], Muschelknautz [6], Luo [11] and
Bohnet [12] developed some empirical or semi-empirical
methods.In the case of dust-laden gases, it is also reasonable
to keep the assumption that the pressure drop over a cyclone
still consists of the four losses defined in Section 3, but their
calculation methods are somehow different. Let Ci stand for
the inlet dust loading. Checking Eqs. (3), (4), (9) and (13),
one observes that under the dust-laden gas condition, the gas
density g shall be replaced by (g + Ci) in Eq. (3) and [g +
(1 )Ci] in Eqs. (4), (9) and (13), where is the separation
efficiency of a cyclone. A low dust loading generally means
a much smaller value of (1 )Ci relative to g. Even at high
dust loadings (1 )Ci is also much less than g because a high
dust loading will lead to a high separation efficiency , usually
approaching unity. Therefore, it is not necessary to use [g +
(1 )Ci] instead of g in the calculations of P2, P3 and
P4 by Eqs. (4), (9) and (13). However, two variables, f0 and
~
V w, bear relation to the dust loading Ci and hence need to be
redetermined while the remainders can be kept unchanged. For
~ stand for the friction coefficient
dust-laden gases, let f and Vw
and non-dimensional tangential velocity at the cyclone wall,
respectively. Considering that the contraction loss P2 can be
omitted and g is replaced by (g + Ci) in Eq. (3), the drag

Table 3
Comparison between measured and calculated drag coefficients at different dust loadings
~
D/m KA dr Vi/m/s T/K g/kg/m3 Ci/kg/m3 m (0)
p (6)
p (8)
p (9)
p (10)
p

0.400 5.48 0.315 20.00 293 1.20 0.002 22.33 20.85 21.43 22.32 22.32 21.50
0.400 5.48 0.315 20.00 293 1.20 0.010 21.25 20.35 20.77 22.30 22.31 20.03
0.400 5.48 0.315 20.00 293 1.20 0.050 19.88 19.86 19.49 22.27 22.26 16.92
0.400 5.48 0.315 20.00 293 1.20 0.200 19.17 19.61 17.68 22.20 22.16 14.13
0.400 5.48 0.315 20.00 293 1.20 0.500 19.17 19.68 16.13 22.13 22.04 15.16
0.400 5.48 0.315 20.00 293 1.20 1.000 19.54 19.97 14.85 22.05 21.89 20.41
0.400 4.18 0.315 15.20 293 1.20 0.010 25.52 25.31 28.46 26.66 26.66 23.94
0.400 4.18 0.315 15.20 293 1.20 0.050 24.87 24.68 26.97 26.62 26.60 20.23
0.400 4.18 0.315 15.20 293 1.20 0.200 23.44 24.26 24.81 26.54 26.49 16.89
0.400 4.18 0.315 15.20 293 1.20 0.500 22.46 24.18 22.91 26.45 26.34 18.12
0.400 4.18 0.315 15.20 293 1.20 1.000 22.79 24.34 21.30 26.35 26.16 24.39
0.400 4.18 0.315 15.20 293 1.20 2.000 24.09 24.85 19.63 26.21 25.88 40.19
0.400 4.18 0.440 22.80 293 1.20 0.010 14.47 13.61 13.23 15.03 15.03 13.49
0.400 4.18 0.440 22.80 293 1.20 0.050 13.60 13.27 12.43 15.00 15.00 11.40
0.400 4.18 0.440 22.80 293 1.20 0.200 13.02 13.13 11.28 14.96 14.93 9.52
0.400 4.18 0.440 22.80 293 1.20 0.500 12.73 13.24 10.26 14.91 14.85 10.21
0.400 4.18 0.440 22.80 293 1.20 1.000 13.74 13.53 9.40 14.85 14.75 13.75
1.6 10 1.9 10 1.4 10 1.3 10 5.2 10
3 2 2 2 2

p this method; p Muschelknautz [6]; p Briggs [8]; p Smolik [21]; p Baskakov [22].
Note:(0) (6) (8) (9) (10)
190 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191

coefficient of a cyclone for dust-laden gases, c, can be the swirling loss decreases due to a weaker swirling flow.
~
determined by Eq. (20) if f0 and Vw in Eqs. (9) and (13) are Consequently the pressure drop decreases at the beginning and
~
.
substituted by the corresponding variables f and Vw then turns to increase with the dust loading.
! The present method is suitable for the prediction of the
2
Ci 2ki be V3 1:5n pressure drop of cyclones operating with pure or dust-laden
nc 1 1 1:11fKAFesVehw de r
1 1:33 eb der
qg gases at normal or high temperatures. And a detailed com-
parison between the experimental results and calculations
V2
Ve hw 1 have shown that the present method is higher in accuracy and
n 2
e e
rc d r KA der e
2
r 2c 2
better in general use than other methods, and can meet the
20 design requirement of most commonly used, reverse flow
According to Muschelknautz [6] cyclones.
 q 
Nomenclature
f f0 1 3 Ci =qg 21
a Cyclone inlet height, a = D, m
~
b Cyclone inlet width, b = b D, m
Based on the author's measurements [19], together with Ci Inlet dust loading, kg/m3
~
Ogawa's research [20], the following equation is recommended De Cyclone outlet diameter, De = d rD, m
~
to calculate V w
, that is D Cyclone barrel diameter, m
~
Db Cyclone hopper diameter, Db = D bD, m
~
Vehw dc Diameter of dust exit, dc = d cD, m
V
Vehw 22 Fs
~
Area of contact surface, Fs = F sD2 / 4, m2
1 0:35Ci =qg 0:27 f0 Friction coefficient
~
S Insert depth of cyclone outlet, S = S D, m
~
Table 3 lists the measured and calculated drag coefficients of H Cyclone body height, H = H D, m
~
three Model PV cyclones at different inlet dust loadings. Here H1 Cyclone barrel height, H1 = H 1D, m
~ ~ ~
the assumption of ki = 0.3 and f0 = 0.005 still holds. The test gas H2 Cyclone cone height, H2 = H 2D = (H H 1)D, m
~
is the ambient air and the test dust is talc powder of 325 mesh. Hb Hopper height, Hb = H bD, m
The inlet dust loading ranges from 0.002 to 2 kg of dust per m3 KA Inlet area ratio, KA = D2 / 4ab
of gas. The calculated results of other published methods are ki Correction coefficient of expansion loss
also listed in Table 3 for comparison. It is clear that the accuracy n Swirl exponent
of the present method is very good. Psi Static pressure at the cyclone inlet, Pa
Pso Static pressure at the cyclone outlet, Pa
5. Conclusions Qi Inlet gas flow rate, m3/s
~
re Radius of cyclone outlet, re = d r R, m
The pressure drop over a cyclone consists of the expansion rc Radius of the core flow, rc = r~cR, m
loss at the cyclone inlet, the contraction loss at the entrance of R Radius of cyclone barrel, m
~
the outlet tube, the swirling loss due to the friction at the cyclone Re Reynolds number, Re = gDVi / gKAd r
wall, and the dissipation loss of gas dynamic energy in the outlet T Gas temperature, K
tube. The latter two parts are most important and the second part Ve Mean axial velocity in cyclone outlet, m/s
can be omitted due to its minor contribution to the pressure Vi Inlet velocity, m/s
~
drop. V Gas tangential velocity, V = V Vi, m/s
~
The swirling loss depends not only on the friction at the Vw Tangential velocity at radius R, Vw = V wVi, m/s
~
cyclone wall but also on the distribution of the gas tangential Ve Gas tangential velocity at re,Ve = V eVi, m/s
velocity. The gas flow in the outlet tube can be divided into two Vz Gas axial velocity, m/s
regions: a core region, in which the axial velocity is assumed as Vze Axial velocity in outlet annular region, m/s
zero, and an annular region in which the axial velocity is V Mean tangential velocity in cyclone outlet, m/s
uniformly distributed. The dissipation loss in the outlet tube is P Cyclone pressure drop, Pa
equal to the sum of the axial dynamic energy and the mean P1 Expansion loss at the cyclone inlet, Pa
tangential dynamic energy. P2 Contraction loss at the cyclone outlet, Pa
The influence of gas temperature on the pressure drop is P3 Swirling loss, Pa
attributed to the change of the intensity of gas swirling motion. P4 Dissipation loss in the cyclone outlet, Pa
The rise of gas temperature leads to a decrease of gas density g Gas dynamic viscosity, Pas
and an increase of gas viscosity, both resulting in a weaker Drag coefficient of a cyclone
swirling flow and a reduction in the swirling loss and dissi- m Measured drag coefficient of a cyclone
pation loss. p Calculated drag coefficient of a cyclone
In the case of dust-laden gases, though an increase of the dust g Gas density, kg/m3
loading will lead to a greater expansion loss at the cyclone inlet, Mean squared deviation, = (p m)2 / N
 J. Chen, M. Shi / Powder Technology 171 (2007) 184191
Acknowledgements
This work was jointly sponsored by Program for New
Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-04-0108) and
National Basic Research Program of China (2005CB221201).
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