The effects of the lower outlet on the flow field of small gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone

In this study, the effects of the lower outlet on the flow field of small gas-liquid cylindrical cyclones are investigated using Reynold stress turbulence model. Under the same operating conditions, four configurations with different outlet styles and angles are established. The time-averaged tangential velocity, axial velocity, and root mean square velocity are compared, respectively. It is shown that many local secondary flow patterns are present in small gas-liquid cylindrical cyclones, and those flow patterns may cause serious energy losses. The lower outlet mainly influences the gas-liquid cylindrical cyclones flow field in the central region. The small gas-liquid cylindrical cyclones with single rectangular outlet provides a steady flow field and a large backflow zone, which are helpful in improving the separation efficiency. According to the simulations, a single rectangular lower outlet is the optimal one for small gas-liquid cylindrical cyclones.