Experimental Study of Fine Particle Separation in a Multichannel Cyclone with Curvilinear Design and Theoretical Assessment under Harsh Microclimatic Conditions

Contaminated gas flows are encountered in most industrial processes and require efficient removal of fine dispersed particles of various types and characteristics. Conventional cy-clones are widely used under harsh operating conditions; however, their separation effi-ciency for fine particulate fractions remains relatively low. In this study, next-generation cyclones with a multichannel design featuring cylindrical and spiral casings are investi-gated, enabling particle collection efficiencies of up to 95% for particles with a diameter of 2 µm. Under harsh microclimatic conditions - particularly at high humidity levels of 70% and above, as well as elevated temperatures ranging from 50 to 200 °C - such technology is prone to clogging, necessitating complex regeneration procedures. Recent research has focused on improved channel geometries incorporating secondary peripheral flows, adapted for gas cleaning in harsh environments. Experimental results demonstrate effec-tive removal of fine dispersed particles of glass and clay with sizes up to 20 µm at initial concentrations of 0.5-15 g/m³. The theoretical assessment of the influence of harsh gas flow conditions includes an analysis of critical flow characteristics and the mechanical forces acting on fine particles under varying temperature and humidity. The results indi-cate a maximum purification efficiency of up to 87.3% at an aerodynamic pressure drop of 440 Pa. The impact of harsh microclimatic conditions is most pronounced in the magni-tudes of centrifugal and drag forces: with every 50 °C increase in temperature, these forces decrease on average by factors of 16 and 4.5, respectively.