Analysis of Bubble Flow Mechanism and Characteristics in Gas–Liquid Cyclone Separator

• Main Authors: Yujie Bai, Hong Ji, Yaozhuo Liu, Lei Li, Shengqing Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: gas–liquid cyclone; bubble flow; numerical simulation; experimental research
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/9/1/123

The separation of bubbles in a gas–liquid cyclone is complicated. A combination of numerical simulation and visual experimentation was considered apt to reveal the microscopic mechanisms of bubble flow. First of all, cyclones with different structures were numerically simulated. The calculation results show that the larger the diameter of the exhaust port, the better the bubble flow effect. When the exhaust port diameter was 24 mm, the gas discharge efficiency was 8% higher than that with an exhaust port diameter of 16 mm. The sequence of the bubble flow effect of a four-structure cyclone was obtained, and the gas discharge efficiency of the cyclone with a rectangular inlet was 7% higher than that of the trapezoidal inlet. Finally, a visual experimental platform was built to compare the rectangular inlet cyclone and spiral inlet cyclone with the best bubble flow effect. In accordance with the simulation numerical calculations, the bubble flow effect of the rectangular inlet cyclone was better than that of the spiral and trapezoid inlet cyclones, and the rectangular inlet in the middle was better. This article provides a specific theory and experience to guide further research on the separation mechanism, flow field characteristics and structurally optimal design of gas–liquid cyclones.