Nested Cyclone Separation Reducing Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclonic separation devices for solid particles in fluids face issues with bulkiness, complex channeling, and pressure drop due to the need for external connections between primary and secondary cyclones, which also lead to clogging and inefficiencies in particle separation.
Innovation Solution
A cyclonic separation device with a channeling unit surrounded by the primary cyclone chamber, featuring a core with helical grooves and a cap that allows the secondary cyclone inlet to be positioned closer to the primary cyclone's axis and the outlet closer to the outer region, reducing the risk of particle bypass and incorporating vortex-breaking grooves and fins to manage fluid rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the secondary cyclone inlet is positioned at the upper end of the secondary cyclone outside the primary cyclone, then the device can prevent fluid short-circuiting from primary to secondary cyclone inlet, but the device bulk becomes significant and complex channeling means of great length are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the secondary cyclone inlet inside the primary cyclone chamber, nesting the secondary cyclone within the primary cyclone structure. This eliminates the need for external channeling means and reduces device bulk while preventing short-circuiting through proper positioning of the inlet away from the primary cyclone inlet path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the secondary cyclone inlet from an external upper position to an internal position within the primary cyclone chamber, utilizing the three-dimensional space inside the primary cyclone. This dimensional repositioning reduces the external footprint and eliminates long channeling means
2Ease of manufacture
If external channeling means of great length are used to connect primary and secondary cyclones, then fluid can be channeled between cyclones, but significant pressure drop is induced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the channeling function with the cyclone chamber structure itself by positioning the secondary cyclone inlet directly within the primary cyclone chamber. This eliminates separate external channeling means and reduces the flow path length, thereby minimizing pressure drop while maintaining channeling capability
3Ease of manufacture
If a perforated wall or grid is provided within the primary cyclone to filter large-diameter dust, then large particles can be filtered, but the grid becomes progressively clogged as the device is used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the perforated wall or grid filtering element from the primary cyclone chamber. Instead of filtering particles through a grid that clogs, the design relies on the cyclonic separation mechanism itself to handle particle separation, eliminating the clogging problem while maintaining the ability to separate particles by size
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration minimizes the risk of particle bypass, reduces device size, and enhances separation efficiency by maintaining the rotary movement of fluid while preventing resuspension of collected particles, resulting in an optimized cyclonic separation performance with reduced bulk and pressure drop.
Implementation Method 1
The separation results from the centrifugal force which tends to move the solid particles towards an external wall
Implementation Method 2
The friction of these particles along this wall indeed induces a reduction in the kinetic energy of the particles, resulting in their falling into a collection chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention proposes a device (10) for the cyclonic separation of solid particles contained in a fluid, comprising a primary cyclone chamber (12), a secondary cyclone chamber (14), an inlet channel (90) for fluid loaded with solid particles opening into the primary cyclone chamber, an outlet channel (18) for fluid cleaned of the solid particles connected to the secondary cyclone chamber, and a pipe unit (20) connecting the primary cyclone chamber to the secondary cyclone chamber and surrounded by the primary cyclone chamber. The pipe unit comprises a core (60) delimiting the secondary cyclone chamber and having at least one helical groove of which a bottom moves away from an axis (34) of the secondary cyclone chamber, moving towards the latter, and a cap (62) covering a part of the core in such a way as to delimit, with the groove, a channel (82) connecting the primary cyclone chamber to the secondary cyclone chamber.