An Experimental Study of the Vortex in the Cyclone Separator

The symmetric vortex in a cylindrical cyclone with a flat bottom was studied with the aid of smoke, and was probed for the distribution of the velocity. The smoke studies revealed a laminar regime of flow at very low velocities, the normal turbulent regime of operation, and a new periodic regime of flow in which the vortex turned and attached to the cylindrical wall of the cyclone. A curious core region apparently capable of separating tobacco smoke from the air was also found. The velocity distribution measured in the vortex showed how the flow pattern is strongly influenced by the inlet area of the cyclone.