Cyclonic Separation Technology: Researches and Developments

Centered on the techniques and industrial applications of the reinforced cyclonic separation process, its principles and mechanism for separation of ions, molecules and their aggregates using polydisperse droplets are discussed generally; the characteristics and influential factors of fish-hook phenomenon of the grade efficiency curve in cyclonic separation for both gas and liquid are analyzed; and the influence of shear force on particle behavior (or that of particle swarm) is also summarized. A novel idea for cyclonic separation is presented here: enhancing the cyclonic separation process of ions, molecules and their aggregates with monodisperse microspheres and their surface grafting, rearranging the distribution of particles by size using centrifugal field, reinforcing the cyclonic separation performance with orderly arranged particle swarm. Also the investigation of the shortcut flow, recirculation flow, the asymmetric structure and non-linear characteristics of the cyclonic flow field with a combined method of Volumetric 3-component Velocimetry (V3V) and Phase-Doppler Particle Anemometer (PDPA) are elaborated. It is recommended to develop new systems for the separation of heterogeneous phases with cyclonic technology, in accordance with the capture and reuse of CO2, methanol to olefins (MTO) process, coal transfer, and the exploitation of oil shale.