Cyclone Dust Collection
Dust collection for industrial processes is usually achieved by use of fabric filter bags, a cyclone dust collector, or combination of the two. In cyclone dust collectors, air (or other gas) laden with particulate is made to spin (vortex) inside a conical chamber. Centrifugal force causes particulate to move to the walls of the chamber where it gains inertia. Then gravity pulls the particulate into a hopper for dust collection. This is called cyclonic separation. Sometimes multiple cyclones are used with a common inlet and outlet.
Counter-cyclonic dust collection is a cyclone with a secondary air stream that reduces wear on the cyclone walls and increases efficiency. Some other cyclones use a ground plate to reverse the vortex and increase efficiency that way.
Counter-Cyclonic Dust Collector
A counter-cyclonic dust collector, such as the Aerodyne "S" Dust Collector, ensures that a minimal amount of particulate comes in contact with the interior walls. This eliminates excess wear and enables the collection of abrasive particulate. The collector can be configured vertically or horizontally, providing easy installation in existing facilities or new locations.
How a Counter-Cyclonic Dust Collector Works
The dirty gas stream enters the dust collector chamber through a stationary spinner that imparts a rotation to the gas stream. Centrifugal force throws the collected particulate toward the outer walls where it is intercepted by a secondary gas stream and forced toward the hopper.
The secondary gas stream keeps particulate away from the dust collector housing, eliminating the need for abrasion-resistant materials or extra heavy construction.
By drawing secondary air from an appropriate source, heating, cooling or drying can be accomplished at the same time that dust particles are removed from the air.
Most important, the secondary stream encourages the movement of particulate toward the hopper, increasing the efficiency of the dust collector, especially with fine particles. Typically, cyclone dust collectors become more efficient as the mass of the particulate increases. A counter-cyclonic dust collector is able to collect finer particulate than a traditional cyclonic dust collector.
A unique advantage of a counter-cyclonic dust collector is that it can be installed in a vertical or horizontal position. Regular cyclones require a vertical orientation so that gravity causes particulate to fall downward toward the dust collector hopper.
