Involute Inlet |
The outside edge of the inlet duct is positioned outside of the cyclone radius and is tapered into the body over some rotation |
- Useful for making compact high capacity designs.
- Reduce erosion when there is high particulate loading
- Method of providing increased collection efficiency when increasing inlet or outlet velocity are not desirable
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- More expensive and difficult to fabricate
- Increases pressure drop
- Less robust design if nozzle loadings are significant
- Can increase cone erosion if the particulate is abrasive
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Tangential Inlet |
The outside edge of the inlet duct is tangent with the cyclone body |
- Low pressure drop
- Suitable for the lowest possible inlet velocities
- Most robust and versatile mechanical design
- Lowest cost
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- May require a greater cyclone diameter and/or height for high capacity cyclones to prevent erosion on the outside of the cyclone outlet pipe with abrasive particulate and high particle loadings
- Higher inlet velocity (and subsequent body erosion if the particulate is abrasive) may be required to achieve the same collection efficiency as the involute design
- Larger diameter cyclone may be required
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Axial Inlet |
Flow is introduced axially at the top of the cyclone. The radial flow is generated by the use of vanes |
- Can be arranged in a common plenum as in multi clones
- Lend themselves to economical mass production
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- Lower collection efficiency
- Wear on vanes can adversely effect collection efficiency and reduce pressure drop
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Helical |
The roof of the inlet and cyclone spirals downward |
- May prevent solids build up on roof surfaces if the material is sticky
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- Expensive
- Lower Efficiency
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