processes

Article
Numerical Study on Separation Performance of
Cyclone Flue Used in Grate Waste Incinerator
Dong-mei Chen 1,2 , Jing-yu Ran 1,2, *, Jun-tian Niu 1,2 , Zhong-qing Yang 1,2 , Ge Pu 1,2 and
Lin Yang 3
1 Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University,
Chongqing 400044, China; dongmeichen@cqu.edu.cn (D.-m.C.); juntianniu@cqu.edu.cn (J.-t.N.);
zqyang@cqu.edu.cn (Z.-q.Y.); pujiayi@163.com (G.P.)
2 School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
3 Coll Comp Sci & Informat Engn, Chongqing Technol & Business University, Chongqing 400067, China;
ctbuyanglin@163.com
* Correspondence: jyran@189.cn




Received: 9 September 2019; Accepted: 8 November 2019; Published: 20 November 2019


Abstract: The traditional treatment of waste incineration flue gas is mostly carried out in low
temperatures, but there are some problems such as corrosion of the heating surface at high and low
temperatures, re-synthesis of dioxins, and low efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the
pollutants at high temperatures. For the grate waste incinerator, this study proposes an adiabatic
cyclone flue arranged at the exit of the first-stage furnace of the grate waste incinerator to pre-remove
the fly ash at high temperatures, so as to alleviate the abrasion and corrosion of the tail heating surface.
In this paper, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is applied to study the performance of
a cyclone flue under different structural parameters, and the comprehensive performance of the
cyclone flue is evaluated by the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution
(TOPSIS) method. The results show that particle separation efficiency increases at first and then
decreases with the increase of the vortex finder length, the vortex finder diameter, and the distance
between vortex finder and gas outlet tube, while it decreases with the increase of the gas outlet tube
diameter. The pressure drop increases with the increase of the vortex finder length, and the vortex
finder diameter, while decreases with the increase of the distance between the vortex finder, the gas
outlet tube, and the gas outlet tube diameter. In the scope of this study, when h1 /a = 1.1, D1 /A = 0.33,
h2 /A = 1.5, and D2 /A = 0.50, the comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue is much better.

Keywords: waste incineration; cyclone flue; gas-solid separation; numerical simulation

1. Introduction
In recent years, waste incineration technology has been widely used in the world by virtue
of reduction (about 90% reduction in volume, 70% reduction in weight), harmlessness, and energy
recovery [1,2]. Due to the complex compositions of waste, a variety of harmful gases and toxic
substances will be formed during the incineration process. These are inorganic acid gases such as
HCl, HF, NOx , SO2 , and gaseous heavy metals such as mercury, highly toxic organic substances
like Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polychlorinated
Dibenzo-Dioxins/Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), fly ash which equivalent to 2–5% of
the original waste weight and required for special treatment [3–5]. Therefore, secondary pollution
problem is urgent to be solved in the waste incineration process.
The traditional treatment of flue gas is mostly to remove the pollutants at low temperatures
(100–350 ◦ C), and the process is very complicated. The corrosion of superheater caused by acid gases

Processes 2019, 7, 866; doi:10.3390/pr7120866 www.mdpi.com/journal/processes

of the original waste weight and required for special treatment [3–5]. Therefore, secondary pollution
problem is urgent to be solved in the waste incineration process.

The traditional treatment of flue gas is mostly to remove the pollutants at low temperatures
Processes 2019, 7, 866 2 of 15
(100–350 °C), and the process is very complicated. The corrosion of superheater caused by acid gases
and fly ash in incineration flue gas at high temperatures limits the further improvement of steam
parameters
and and
fly ash in power generation
incineration flue gasefficiency [6]. In addition,
at high temperatures limitsthethe
low temperature
further environment
improvement of steam is
easy to promote
parameters the re-synthesis
and power generationofefficiency
dioxins, [6].
andIn the presencethe
addition, oflow
chlorine and heavy
temperature metals in fly
environment ash
is easy
provide favorable conditions for dioxins re-synthesis [7–10]. Therefore, it is necessary to pre-remove
to promote the re-synthesis of dioxins, and the presence of chlorine and heavy metals in fly ash provide
acidic gases
favorable and fly ash
conditions forfrom fluere-synthesis
dioxins gas at high temperatures.
[7–10]. Therefore, it is necessary to pre-remove acidic
gasesThe
andgrate
fly ash from incinerator
waste flue gas at high is thetemperatures.
mainstream equipment for waste incineration [11,12]. At
The the
present, grate waste
grate incinerator
waste is therelies
incinerator mainstream equipment
on a three-stage for waste
furnace incineration
to reduce the flue[11,12]. At present,
gas temperature
the
at the entrance of convective heating surface generally. In order to prevent corrosion atat low
grate waste incinerator relies on a three-stage furnace to reduce the flue gas temperature the
entrance of convective
temperatures, the flue heating surface generally.
gas temperature at the exit Inof
order to prevent
the waste heatcorrosion at low temperatures,
boiler is approximately the
designed
flue gas temperature at the exit of the waste heat boiler is approximately designed
to be at temperatures between 190–230 °C, which will limit the improvement of the efficiency of waste to be at temperatures
between 190–230 ◦ C, which will limit the improvement of the efficiency of waste heat boiler. According
heat boiler. According to the structural characteristics of the grate waste incinerator, this research
to the structural characteristics
proposes a square adiabatic cyclone of the grate waste incinerator,
flue arranged this research
at the first-stage proposes
furnace exit ofa square
the grateadiabatic
waste
cyclone flue arranged at the first-stage furnace exit of the grate waste incinerator
incinerator (as shown in Figure 1) to pre-remove the fly ash in the flue gas. In addition, calcium (as shown in Figureand1)
to pre-remove the fly ash in the flue gas. In addition, calcium and ammonia
ammonia can be injected into the flue to remove acidic gases synergistically, which alleviates can be injected into the
flue to remove
corrosion acidicsurface
of heating gases synergistically,
at high and low which alleviates corrosion
temperatures, as well as of heating
inhibits surface
dioxin at high and
formation and
low temperatures, as well as inhibits dioxin formation and improves furnace
improves furnace parameters. In order to facilitate the arrangement, the cyclone flue is designed parameters. In orderastoa
facilitate
square, and the downward
arrangement, the cyclone
exhaust flue is to
is adopted designed
conform astoa square,
the flowand downward
direction exhaust
of flue gas inisthe
adopted
grate
to conform to the flow direction of flue gas in the grate waste incinerator,
waste incinerator, the original grate waste incinerator can be reformed directly. There is no heating the original grate waste
incinerator
surface inside canthe
beflue,
reformed
the innerdirectly.
layer isThere is no heating
refractory, and thesurface inside
outer layer the flue, the
is insulation inner layer
materials. Theseis
refractory,
can prevent and theloss
heat outerandlayer is insulation
ensure that the materials.
flue gas existsTheseatcan prevent
a higher heat loss andwhich
temperature, ensure canthat the
crack
flue gas exists at a higher temperature, which can crack dioxins effectively.
dioxins effectively. In order to understand the flow field characteristics and gas–solid separation In order to understand the
flow field characteristics
performance of cyclone flue, and gas–solid
this paperseparation
simulatesperformance
the internal of cyclone
flow field flue, this paperseparation
and gas–solid simulates
the internal flow field and gas–solid
performance of cyclone flue with the CFD method. separation performance of cyclone flue with the CFD method.

Figure 1. Arrangement diagram of cyclone flue in grate waste incinerator.

incinerator.

The adiabatic cyclone flue proposed in this paper is similar in in structure

structure toto the
the cyclone
cyclone separator,
separator,
so the simulation method of the cyclone separator can be referred to. The The traditional
traditional cyclone separator
is circular and
andhas
hasananupper
upperexhaust,
exhaust,which
which has
has been
been subjected
subjected to atolarge
a large number
number of experiments
of experiments and
and numerical studies by many researchers, and the research methods are relatively
numerical studies by many researchers, and the research methods are relatively reasonable reasonable and
reliable. Xiang
Xiangetetal.
al.[13]
[13]used
usedthetheReynold’s
Reynold’sstress
stressmodel
model(RSM)
(RSM)toto simulate
simulate thethe internal
internal flow
flow field
field of
of cyclone
cyclone separators
separators with
with differentheights.
different heights.TheTheresults
resultsshowed
showedthat thatasasthe
the height
height ofof the cyclone
separator increases,
increases, the
the tangential
tangentialvelocity
velocitywill
willdecrease,
decrease,then
thenthe
thecentrifugal
centrifugalforce
forceonon the
the particles
particles is
is reduced, which will result in a decrease in dust removal performance. Raoufi et al. [14] studied
the effect of the gas outlet tube structure on the separation efficiency of the cyclone separator based
on the Euler–Lagrangian method; the results indicated that the separation efficiency of the separator
decreases with the increase of the diameter of gas outlet tube. Moreover, Safikhani et al. [15] applied a
Processes 2019, 7, 866 3 of 15

simple pressure correction algorithm, using the Reynold’s stress turbulence model and the random
walk model to study the internal flow field and particle motion trajectory of cyclone separators with
different number of inlets. In addition, Sakura et al. [16] used the large eddy simulation (LES) model,
based on Ansys CFX to study the gas–solid flow characteristics of cyclone separators, and compared
the effects of different dust outlet shapes on separation efficiency and pressure drop. Zhang et al. [17]
used the transient Reynold’s stress model and discrete phase model to study the flow field and particle
motion trajectory in the cyclone separator, and proposed a new cyclone separator, which can improve
efficiency and reduce pressure drop. Furthermore, Parvaz et al. [18] studied the performance of a
cyclone separator which had an inner cone located at the bottom of the cyclone, and simulated the
influence of the inner cone with different heights and diameters on the performance of the separator.
Compared to conventional cyclone separator, there is less research on square and downward
exhaust cyclones. Safikhani et al. [19] compared the internal flow field, separation efficiency of a
square cyclone separator and a circular cyclone separator based on the CFD method, the results
showed that the separation efficiency of the square cyclone separator is lower than the circular cyclone
separator, but the pressure drop is rather small. Su et al. [20] used the Euler–Lagrange method to
simulate the gas–solid flow characteristics of three inlet structures of square cyclones. Raoufi et al. [21]
studied the internal flow field of a square cyclone separator by numerical simulation method, and
analyzed the similarities and differences of the internal flow field of the upper exhaust type and the
downward exhaust type cyclone separator. Moreover, Oh et al. [22] investigated the internal flow
field and particle separation efficiency of the downward exhaust cyclone based on the Euler–Lagrange
method. Fatahian et al. [23] studied the performance that using the laminarizer in the square and
circular cyclones, the results suggested that square cyclone is more effective. Additionally, Mokni et
al. [24] used the CFD method to study the effects of cylinder height on flow field, pressure drop and
separation performance in a turbulent hydrocyclone.
Here we simulated by way of a realizable k-ε model and random walk model. Firstly, the geometric
model and mathematical model are described, then the internal flow field characteristics of the cyclone
flue and the influence of various structural parameters on the separation performance and pressure
drop are analyzed, finally, the comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue is evaluated by technique
for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method.

2. Model Description

2.1. Adiabatic Cyclone Flue Model

As shown in Figure 1, the cyclone flue distributes along the width of the grate waste incinerator
evenly, and each adiabatic cyclone flue works independently without any influence on each other,
so only one of the flues needs to be studied. Its structure is shown in Figure 2. In this paper, the
influences of the vortex finder diameter, vortex finder length, distance between vortex finder and gas
outlet tube, gas outlet tube diameter on the performance of cyclone flue were studied. The dimensions
of each cyclone flue are given in Table 1. In order to reduce the computational complexity, the numerical
studies only were carried out on the parts above the cone. The study of Oh et al. [22] showed that
neglecting the cone part has little effect on the results and can be neglected.
Processes 2019, 7, 866 4 of 15
Processes 2019, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 16

(a) Three-dimensional structure diagram (b) Profile diagram

Figure 2. Structure diagram of adiabatic cyclone flue: (a) Three-dimensional structure diagram,
Figure 2. Structure diagram of adiabatic cyclone flue: (a) Three-dimensional structure diagram, (b)
(b) Profile diagram.
Profile diagram
Table 1. Dimension of the adiabatic cyclone flue.
Table 1. Dimension of the adiabatic cyclone flue.
Dimension Ration
Dimension Selection Principle [25] Length Length
(m) Dimension Ration
(Dimension/A)
Dimension Selection Principle [25]
Consistent with depth of grate (m) (Dimension/A)
Body edge length, A Consistent withfor
depth of grate 3.0 1
furnace (Usually 3–4 m)
Body edge length, A 3.0 1
Inlet height, a furnace
a =(Usually
2.2–2.5b for 3–4 m) 2.0 2.5b
Inlet height, a a = 2.2–2.5b 2.0 2.5b
Inlet width, b b = (A − D1 )/3 − (A − D1 )/2 0.8 0.27
Inlet width, b b = (A − D1)/3 − (A − D1)/2 0.8 0.27
l = 0.75 A
InletInlet length, l
length, l l = 0.75 A 2.25
2.25 0.75
0.75
2.2 2.2 1.1a 1.1a
2.4 2.4 1.2a 1.2a
Vortex finder length, h1 h1 = 1–1.5a 2.6 1.3a
Vortex finder length, h1 h1 = 1–1.5a 2.6 1.3a
2.8 1.4a
3.0 2.8 1.5a 1.4a
3.0 1.5a
1.0 0.33
1.1 1.0 0.37 0.33
Vortex finder diameter, D1 D1 = 0–0.5A 1.2 1.1 0.40 0.37
Vortex finder diameter, D1 D1 = 0–0.5A 1.3 1.2 0.43 0.40
1.4 1.3 0.47 0.43
2.5 1.4 0.83 0.47
Ensure that the gas flow 3.0 2.5 1.00 0.83
Distance between vortex
sectionthat
Ensure is larger thanflow
the gas the gas
section is 3.5 3.0 1.17 1.00
finder and gas outlet tube, h2
Distance between vortex outlet tube section 4.0 1.33
larger than the gas outlet tube 3.5 1.17
finder and gas outlet tube, h2 4.5 1.50
section 4.0 1.33
1.0 4.5 0.33 1.50
1.1 0.37
1.0 0.33
1.2 0.40
Gas outlet tube diameter, D2 D2 = 0.3–0.5A 1.1
1.3 0.43 0.37
1.4 1.2 0.47 0.40
Gas outlet tube diameter, D2 D2 = 0.3–0.5A
1.5 1.3 0.50 0.43
Cyclone flue height, H — 10.0 1.4 3.33 0.47
1.5 0.50
Cyclone flue height, H --- 10.0 3.33
Processes 2019, 7, 866 5 of 15

2.2. Governing Equation

The CFD method was used to simulate a three-dimensional flow field in the adiabatic cyclone
flue. For steady incompressible flow, the continuity equation and momentum equation are as follows:

∂ui
=0 (1)
∂xi

∂ui 1 ∂P ∂ u ∂
uj =− +v 2 i − Rij (2)
∂x j ρ ∂xi ∂x j ∂x j ∂x j

In the above equations, ui is the average velocity of the fluid; xi is the coordinate position; P
0 0
is the average pressure; ρ is the fluid density; v is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid; Rij = ui u j ,
is the Reynold’s stress tensor, which represents the influence of turbulence on the flow field, here,
0
ui = ui − ui .
The turbulence models for cyclone separator simulation were the k-ε (standard, RNG, realizable)
model and the Reynold’s stress model (RSM) commonly. In this paper, the realizable k-ε model was
adopted, the transport equations of turbulent kinetic energy (k) and turbulent dissipation rate (ε) were
as follows:
∂ ∂ ∂ µt ∂k
(ρk) + (ρku j ) = [(µ + ) ] + Gk − ρε (3)
∂t ∂x j ∂x j σk ∂x j

∂ ∂ ∂ µt ∂ε ε2
(ρε) + (ρεu j ) = [(µ + ) ] − ρC2 √ (4)
∂t ∂x j ∂x j σε ∂x j k + vε
In the above equations, Gk represents the turbulent energy generated by the velocity gradient; µ
is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid; C2 is a constant; σk , and σε are turbulent Prandtl numbers in k
equation and ε equation respectively.
There are two main methods simulating gas–solid two-phase flow. They are the Euler–Euler
method and the Euler–Lagrange method. In order to track the trajectory of particles, the Euler–Lagrange
method was used to simulate gas–solid two-phase flow. In this method, gases were regarded as
continuous phase and particles as dispersed discrete phase. Because the particle concentration was
small, it belonged to the dilute phase flow and the particle size was small too, so the influence of
particle on flow field can be neglected, unidirectional coupling mode was adopted in this paper, and
the interaction force between particles was ignored. In Lagrangian coordinates, the force balance
equations of particles are as follows:

dup gx (ρp − ρA )
= FD (uA − up )x + (5)
dt ρp

18µA CD Rep
FD = (6)
ρp d2p 24
C2 C
CD = C1 + + 3 (7)
Rep Rep
 
ρA dp up − uA 
Rep = (8)
µA
In the above equations, uA is the fluid velocity; up is the particle velocity; µA is the fluid dynamic
viscosity; dp is the particle diameter; ρp is the particle density; ρA is the fluid density; Rep is the relative
Reynold’s number (particle Reynold’s number); CD is the resistance coefficient; C1 –C3 is a constant,
depending on Reynolds number; gx is the gravitational acceleration.
Processes 2019,
Processes 2019, 7,
7, 866
x FOR PEER REVIEW 66 of 16
of 15

2.3. Boundary Conditions and Numerical Schemes

2.3. Boundary Conditions and Numerical Schemes
Semi-implicit method pressure-linked equations consistent (SIMPLEC) were used as a method
Semi-implicit method
for pressure-velocity pressure-linked
coupling. The Pressureequations consistent
staggering option(SIMPLEC)
(PRESTO) were used for
was used as apressure
method
for pressure-velocity
interpolation. coupling.
The quadratic The Pressure
upstream staggering
interpolation option (PRESTO)
for convective was usedwas
kinetics (QUICK) for pressure
used for
interpolation. The format.
discrete difference quadratic upstream interpolation for convective kinetics (QUICK) was used for
discrete difference format.
In this paper, we assumed that the gas flow enters the flue at a constant velocity, the gas phase
In this paper, we assumed that the gas flow enters the flue at a constant velocity, the gas phase is a
is a high temperature flue gas, its temperature is◦ 850 °C, its velocity is 20 m/s, and the particles and
high temperature flue gas, its temperature is 850 C, its velocity is 20 m/s, and the particles and fluids
fluids have the same inlet velocity. The setting of specific boundary conditions are shown in Table 2,
have the same inlet velocity. The setting of specific boundary conditions are shown in Table 2, non-slip
non-slip adiabatic boundary conditions are adopted for all walls.
adiabatic boundary conditions are adopted for all walls.

Table 2. The boundary conditions in numeric simulation.

Table 2. The boundary conditions in numeric simulation.
Discrete Phase Model (DPM)
Name Boundary Condition Type Discrete Phase Model (DPM)
Name Boundary Condition Type Boundary Condition Type
Boundary Condition Type
Gas–solid inlet velocity-inlet wall-jet
Gas–solid inlet
gas outlet velocity-inlet
outflow wall-jet
escape
gas outlet outflow escape
particle outlet wall trap
particle outlet wall trap
wall wall reflect
wall wall reflect

2.4. Grid Independence Study

2.4. Grid Independence Study
In this paper, the structured hexahedral mesh of cyclone flue was generated by ICEM. In order
In thisthe
to ensure paper, the structured
accuracy hexahedral
of calculation mesh of the
and shorten cyclone flue wastime,
calculation generated by ICEM.numbers
five different In order to
of
ensure the accuracy of calculation and shorten the calculation time, five different
structured grids were generated to verify the irrelevance between the calculated results and the numbers of structured
grids
number wereof generated
grids, whichto verify the irrelevance
are 890,000 between
cells, 1,190,000 the1,400,000
cells, calculated results
cells, and the
1,670,000 number
cells of grids,
and 1,960,000
which are 890,000 cells, 1,190,000 cells, 1,400,000 cells, 1,670,000 cells and 1,960,000
cells. Figure 3 shows the weighted average turbulence intensity (I) and weighted average turbulent cells. Figure 3 shows
the weighted
kinetic energyaverage
(K) at z turbulence
= 1.5 m crossintensity
section (I) and
area weighted
under average
different meshturbulent
numbers,kinetic
with the energy (K) of
increase at
= number
zthe 1.5 m cross section area under different mesh numbers, with the increase of the number
of grids, the values of K and I decreased gradually, the differences between the 1,670,000 of grids,
the
grids and theK1,960,000
values of and I decreased gradually,
grids were the differences
0.17% and between the
0.06% respectively, 1,670,000
indicating grids
that theand the 1,960,000
number of grids
grids wereimpact
had little 0.17% on
andthe0.06% respectively,
calculation indicating
results. The model thatwith
the number
1,670,000ofgrids
gridsishad little impact
selected on the
for numerical
calculation
simulation. results. The model with 1,670,000 grids is selected for numerical simulation.

Figure 3.3.The
Theweighted
weighted average
average turbulent
turbulent kinetic
kinetic energy
energy (K)weighted
(K) and and weighted
average average turbulence
turbulence intensity
(I) at z = 1.5
intensity (I) at
m zcross-section
= 1.5 m cross-section under grids.
under different different grids.

2.5. Model Validation

2.5. Model Validation
In
In order
order toto verify
verify the
the accuracy
accuracy of
of the
the model,
model, the
the flow
flow characteristics
characteristics were
were compared
compared withwith the
the
experimental
experimental data of Su [26]. Su et al. measured the axial velocity distribution of Plane 1 at an
data of Su [26]. Su et al. measured the axial velocity distribution of Plane 1 at an inlet
inlet
velocity
velocity of
of 25.3
25.3 m/s
m/susing
usingaaparticle
particledynamic
dynamicanalyzer
analyzer(PDA).
(PDA).The
Thegeometric
geometricmodel
modelisisshown
shownininFigure 4.
Figure
4.
Processes 2019, 7, 866 7 of 15
Processes 2019,
Processes 2019, 7,
7, xx FOR
FOR PEER
PEER REVIEW
REVIEW 77 of
of 16
16

Figure
Figure 555 compares
compares the
the computed
computed axial
axial velocity at
at different
velocity at different positions
positions inin Plane
Plane 111 with
with thethe
Figure compares the computed axial velocity different positions in Plane with the
corresponding
corresponding experimental
experimental data
data of
of Su.
Su. The
The twotwo positions
positions were
were x = x
30= 30
mm mm
and and
x = 90x =
mm.90 mm.
It is It is
clearly
corresponding experimental data of Su. The two positions were x = 30 mm and x = 90 mm. It is clearly
clearly seenthe
seen that
that that the model
model prediction
prediction was was in close
in close
close quantitative
quantitative agreement
agreement withthe
with theexperimental
experimental data.
data.
seen the model prediction was in quantitative agreement with the experimental data.
Overall, the
Overall, the adopted
the adopted model
adopted model can
model can accurately
can accurately and
accurately and reliably
and reliably predict
reliably predict the
predict the performance
the performance
performance of of the
of the cyclone
the cyclone flue.
cyclone flue.
flue.
Overall,

Figure 4.
Figure 4. Geometric
Geometric model of Su et
et al.
al.

Figure 5.
Figure 5. Comparison
Comparison of
of simulated
simulated velocity
velocity with
with measurements.
measurements.

3. Results
3. Results
3. and
Results and Discussion
and Discussion
Discussion

3.1. Characteristics
3.1. Characteristics
Characteristics of of Flow
of Flow Field
Flow Field
Field
3.1.
Figure 6a
Figure 6ashows
showsthe thevelocity
velocitydistribution
distribution of of
thethe
cyclone
cycloneflueflue = 1.5
at zat m
1.5cross section. It canItbe seen
Figure 6a shows the velocity distribution of the cyclone flue at zz == 1.5 m cross
m cross section.
section. can
It can be
be
from
seen the
from figure
the that
figure the maximum
that the velocity
maximum appeared
velocity at the
appeared entrance
at the of the
entrance gasof outlet
the tube.
gas The
outlet velocity
tube. The
seen from the figure that the maximum velocity appeared at the entrance of the gas outlet tube. The
below
velocity thebelow
vortexthefinder
vortex was lower,
finder wasbecause
lower, the recirculation
because zone waszone
the recirculation
recirculation formedwashere.
formed Thehere.
obvious
The
velocity below the vortex finder was lower, because the zone was formed here. The
flow
obviousseparation
flow was
separationfound wasat the edge
found at of
the the
edgevortex
of finder
the vortexnear the
finder inlet,
near resulting
the inlet, in a lower
resulting in velocity.
a lower
obvious flow separation was found at the edge of the vortex finder near the inlet, resulting in a lower
Oh et al. [22]
velocity. also
Oh et
et al.found this found
[22] also
also phenomenon in the simulation
this phenomenon
phenomenon theof
in the a circular uniflow
simulation cyclone.
of aa circular
circular The gas
uniflow flow
cyclone.
velocity. Oh al. [22] found this in simulation of uniflow cyclone.
went
The gasintoflow
gas the flue
went andintorotated around
the flue
flue the vortex
and rotated
rotated finder,
around flow
the separation
vortex finder,appeared due to the
flow separation
separation centrifugal
appeared due
The flow went into the and around the vortex finder, flow appeared due
and
to inertial
the forces,
centrifugal and
and this phenomenon
inertial forces, was
and weakened
this gradually
phenomenon in
was the downstream
weakened direction.
gradually in the
to the centrifugal and inertial forces, and this phenomenon was weakened gradually in the
downstream direction.
downstream direction.
Processes 2019, 7, 866 8 of 15
Processes 2019, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 16
Processes 2019, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 16

(a) velocity contours (b) static pressure contours

(a) velocity contours (b) static pressure contours
Figure 6. Flow field distribution at z = 1.5 m: (a) velocity contours, (b) static pressure contours
Figure6.6.Flow
Figure Flowfield
fielddistribution
distributionat
atzz== 1.5
1.5 m:
m: (a)
(a) velocity
velocity contours,
contours, (b)
(b) static
static pressure
pressure contours.
contours

Figure 6b
Figure
Figure 6b shows
shows the the static
static pressure
static pressure distribution
pressure distribution
distributionofof the
ofthe cyclone
thecyclone flue
cycloneflue atatzz z== =
flueat 1.51.5
1.5 mm
m cross
cross section.
section.
cross section. It
It
can
can
It be
bebe
can seen
seen from
seenfrom the
fromthe figure
thefigure that
figurethat the
thatthe static
thestatic pressure
staticpressure distributed
pressuredistributed symmetrically
distributedsymmetrically
symmetrically around around
around thethe central
the central axis,
central axis,
which
which is
which is similar
is similar
similar to to traditional
to traditional cyclone
traditional cyclone separators
cyclone separators [14,27].
separators [14,27]. Along the radius,
[14,27]. Along the radius,
radius, the the pressure
the pressure decreased
pressure decreased
decreased
slowly, thus
slowly,thus
slowly, forming
thus forming a
forming aa low low pressure
low pressure zone
pressure zone in
zone in the
in the center.
the center. The
center. The minimum
The minimum static
minimum static pressure
static pressure appeared
pressure appeared
appeared atat the
at the
the
entrance
entrance of the gas
entrance of the gas outletoutlet tube,
outlet tube, reaching
tube, reaching −1750
reaching−1750 Pa.
−1750Pa. Combined
Pa.Combined
Combined with
with the
the
with thevelocity
velocity
velocity distribution,
distribution, it can
it can
distribution, be
be
it can
seen
seen
be that
that
seen thatthethe
the fluid
fluid
fluidvelocity
velocity reached
velocityreached the
reachedthe highest
thehighest here,
highesthere, and
here,and the
andthe static
the static pressure
static pressure
pressure was was converted
converted into
into
into
dynamic pressure.
dynamic pressure.
dynamic pressure.
Figure
Figure 7 shows the the velocity
velocityvector
vectordiagram
diagramofofcyclone
cyclone flue
at at y =m9cross
m cross section. It be
canseenbe
Figure 77 shows
shows the velocity vector diagram of cyclone flueflue at yy == 99 m section.
cross section. It can
It can be seen
seen from
from the the
the figure figure
figure that that
that when when
when the the
the gas gas
gas flow flow
flow went went
went into into
into the
the fluethe flue
flue from
from thefrom the
the inlet, inlet,
inlet, the the
the velocity velocity
velocity increased increased
increased firstly,
firstly,
from
firstly,
and anddecreased
then then decreased gradually
gradually in the in the course
course of the of theThere
flow. flow. was
There a was a strong
strong eddy eddy
at the at the corner
corner facing
and then decreased gradually in the course of the flow. There was a strong eddy at the corner facing
facing the
the inlet, inlet,
inlet, which
which haswhich
has beenhas been confirmed
been confirmed
confirmed in in
in Su’s Su’s discovery
Su’s discovery
discovery [20]. [20].
[20]. As As
As the
the gasthe gas
gas flow flow
flow goes goes
goes into into
into the the
the flue,flue,
flue, it
the it
it impinged
impinged the
the corner
corner opposite
opposite the
the inlet
inlet directly,
directly, and
and the
the sharp
sharp changed
changed the
the flow
flow direction
direction at
at the
the
impinged the corner opposite the inlet directly, and the sharp changed the flow direction at the
corner,
corner,causing
causingthe thelocal
localvortex.
vortex.Some
Some particles were
particles collected
were in the
collected in corner and fell
the corner
corner anddown, while while
fell down,
down, some
corner, causing the local vortex. Some particles were collected in the and fell while
particles were
some particles rebounded
particles were in
were rebounded the
rebounded in corner
in the and rotated
the corner
corner and continuously.
and rotated In
rotated continuously.the
continuously. Inother corners,
In the
the otherthere was
other corners, also
corners, there
therea
some
weaker
was also local vortex.
also aa weaker
weaker local
local vortex.
vortex.
was

vector atyy== 99 m.
Figure 7. Velocity
Velocity vectorat
at y =
Figure 7. Velocity vector
Figure 7. m.
3.2. Particle Separation Efficiency and Pressure Drop
Particle separation efficiency and pressure drop are two important indices to study the performance
of the adiabatic cyclone flue. This paper used the control variable method to study the effects of
Processes 2019, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 16

3.2. Particle Separation Efficiency and Pressure Drop

Processes 2019, 7, 866 9 of 15
Particle separation efficiency and pressure drop are two important indices to study the
performance of the adiabatic cyclone flue. This paper used the control variable method to study the
structural parameters
effects of structural such as vortex
parameters such as finder length
vortex (h1length
finder ), vortex
(h1finder diameter
), vortex (D1 ), distance
finder diameter (D1), between
distance
vortex finder and gas outlet tube
between vortex finder and gas outlet(h 2 ), and gas outlet tube diameter (D ) on the separation
tube (h2), and gas outlet tube 2diameter (D2) on the separation performance
and pressure and
performance droppressure
of the cyclone
drop offlue,thewhich provided
cyclone guiding
flue, which significance
provided guidingfor significance
the optimal fordesign
the
of the cyclone flue. According to the literature [28–30], the particle size of fly
optimal design of the cyclone flue. According to the literature [28–30], the particle size of fly ash inash in the waste
incineration flue gas ranged
the waste incineration from
flue gas 1 to 100
ranged fromµm, which
1 to can be
100 μm, assumed
which that
can be the particle
assumed sizeparticle
that the followssize
the
Rosin–Rammler distribution.distribution.
follows the Rosin–Rammler

3.2.1. The Influence

3.2.1. The Influence of
of the
the Vortex
Vortex Finder
Finder Length
Length
Figure
Figure 88 shows
shows thethe effects
effects of
of the
the vortex
vortex finder
finder length
length onon the
the separation
separation efficiency
efficiency andand pressure
pressure
drop cyclone flue, and the h 1 /a
drop of the cyclone flue, and the h1/a varying from 1.1 to 1.5. It can be seen from the figure thatthat
of the varying from 1.1 to 1.5. It can be seen from the figure the
the separation
separation efficiency
efficiency increased
increased firstly
firstly and decreased
and then then decreased
with thewith the increase
increase of the vortex
of the vortex finder
finder length.
length.
There was There
anwas an optimum
optimum value value
in theinmiddle.
the middle.
WhenWhen /a =the
h1/a =h11.2, 1.2,separation
the separation efficiency
efficiency reached
reached its
its highest point. The pressure drop increased linearly with the increase of the
highest point. The pressure drop increased linearly with the increase of the vortex finder length, vortex finder length,
and
and the increase
the increase ratioratio
waswas about
about 1.5%.
1.5%. TheThe experiments
experiments conducted
conducted bybyTrieseh
Triesehetetal.
al.also
alsofound
found that
that the
the
pressure
pressure drop
drop increased
increased proportionally
proportionallyto to the
the vortex
vortexfinder
finderlength
length[31].
[31].

Figure
Figure 8.
8. Effect
Effect of
of the
the vortex
vortex finder
finder length /a) on
(h11/a)
length (h on efficiency and pressure
efficiency and pressure drop.
drop.

The function of the vortex finder was mainly mainly embodied

embodied in in two
two aspects.
aspects. On the one hand, the gas
wasrotated
flow was rotatedunder
underthethe guidance
guidance of the
of the vortexvortex finder.
finder. On theOnother
the hand,
other the
hand, the annular
annular space
space formed
formed
by by thefinder
the vortex vortex finder
and and the
the body bodythe
affected affected thespeed
rotation rotation speed
of gas of As
flow. gasthe
flow. As theofincrease
increase of
the vortex
the vortex
finder length finder length appropriated,
appropriated, enough time enough time to
was ensured was ensured
separate to separate
particles to the particles to the if
wall. However, wall.
the
However,
vortex if the
finder vortex
length wasfinder length
too long, was tooback-flushing
it caused long, it caused of back-flushing
the bottom due of to
thethe
bottom due of
extension to the
extensiongas
swirling of the swirling
flow, gas flow,
and resulted in aand resulted
decrease in a decrease
in separation in separation
efficiency. efficiency.
The longer The longer
the length the
of vortex
length was,
finder of vortex finderthe
the larger was,
areatheoflarger
the wallthecontacted
area of thewithwall
thecontacted
gas flow with
was. theThegas flow was.
rotational The
kinetic
rotational
energy losskinetic
of the energy
gas flowloss of the gas
increased dueflow increased
to friction, due to in
resulting friction, resulting
an increase in theinpressure
an increase in the
drop.
pressure drop.
3.2.2. The Influence of the Vortex Finder Diameter
3.2.2.Figure
The Influence
9 shows of thethe Vortex
effects Finder
of the Diameter
vortex finder diameter on the separation efficiency and pressure
drop Figure
of the cyclone
9 showsflue, and theofDthe
the effects 1 /Avortex
varying fromdiameter
finder 0.33 to 0.47.
on theIt can be seen efficiency
separation from the figure that the
and pressure
separation efficiency increased firstly and then decreased with the increase of the vortex
drop of the cyclone flue, and the D1/A varying from 0.33 to 0.47. It can be seen from the figure that finder diameter.
While D1 /A= 0.4,
the separation the separation
efficiency increased efficiency was
firstly and thedecreased
then highest, reaching
with theto 77.2%. of
increase The
thepressure drop
vortex finder
increased with the increase of vortex finder diameter, but
diameter. While D1/A= 0.4, the separation efficiency was the highest, while D 1 /A was higher than 0.4, the change
reaching to 77.2%. The pressure
of theincreased
drop diameter of vortex
with the finder
increase hadoflittle effect
vortex on the
finder pressurebut
diameter, drop.
whileCompared
D1/A was with the vortex
higher finder
than 0.4, the
length,
change the vortex
of the finder of
diameter diameter
vortex hadfindera weaker influence
had little on the
effect on the pressure
pressure drop.
drop. Compared with the
vortex finder length, the vortex finder diameter had a weaker influence on the pressure drop.
finder was reduced, and the velocity of the flow increased when entering the flue, in addition, the
centrifugal force strengthened, which helped to improve separation efficiency. In addition, the
increase in velocity of flow led to an increase in the loss of rotational kinetic energy, resulting in an
increase in pressure loss. However, the too large vortex finder diameter led to the impact of part of
the gas2019,
Processes
Processes flow7,7,866
2019, on thePEER
x FOR vortex finder directly, resulting in the deterioration of the flow field and
REVIEW 10 ofthe
10 16
15
rebound of particles, which was not conducive to the separation of particles.
With the increase of the vortex finder diameter, the annular cross-section area of the vortex
finder was reduced, and the velocity of the flow increased when entering the flue, in addition, the
centrifugal force strengthened, which helped to improve separation efficiency. In addition, the
increase in velocity of flow led to an increase in the loss of rotational kinetic energy, resulting in an
increase in pressure loss. However, the too large vortex finder diameter led to the impact of part of
the gas flow on the vortex finder directly, resulting in the deterioration of the flow field and the
rebound of particles, which was not conducive to the separation of particles.

Figure 9. Effect /A) on efficiency and pressure

Effect of the vortex finder diameter (D11/A) pressure drop.
drop.

3.2.3.With the increase

The Influence of of
thethe
Gas vortex
Outlet finder
Tubediameter,
Diameterthe annular cross-section area of the vortex finder
was reduced, and the velocity of the flow increased when entering the flue, in addition, the centrifugal
Figure 10 shows the effects of gas outlet tube diameter on separation efficiency and the pressure
force strengthened, which helped to improve separation efficiency. In addition, the increase in velocity
drop of the cyclone flue, and the D2/A varying from 0.33 to 0.5. It can be seen from the figure that the
of flow led to an increase in the loss of rotational kinetic energy, resulting in an increase in pressure loss.
separation efficiency decreased with the increase of the gas outlet tube diameter. But in the range of
However, the too large vortex finder diameter led to the impact of part of the gas flow on the vortex
0.33–0.4 and 0.43–0.5, the variation range of separation efficiency was small, while D2/A increased
finder directly, resulting
Figure in of
thethe
deterioration of the flow (Dfield and the rebound of particles, which was
from 0.4 to 0.43, the9.separation
Effect vortex finder
efficiency diameter
decreased from 1/A) on
77.2% efficiency
to 75.8%.andCompared
pressure drop.
with the vortex
not conducive to the separation of particles.
finder, the gas outlet tube diameter had a greater influence on the pressure drop. When D2/A
3.2.3. The Influence of the Gas Outlet Tube Diameter
increased
3.2.3. from 0.33of
The Influence tothe
0.5,Gas
theOutlet
pressure Tubedrop decreased from 2065 Pa to 934 Pa, and the variation
Diameter
decreased
Figuregradually.
10 shows the effects of gas outlet tube diameter on separation efficiency and the pressure
dropFigure
of the 10 showsflue,
cyclone the and
effects
theofDgas outlet tube diameter on separation efficiency and the pressure
2/A varying from 0.33 to 0.5. It can be seen from the figure that the
drop of the cyclone flue, and
separation efficiency decreased with the D /A varying
2 the increase from
of0.33
the gasto 0.5. It can
outlet be diameter.
tube seen fromButthe in
figure that the
the range of
separation efficiency decreased with the increase of the gas outlet tube diameter.
0.33–0.4 and 0.43–0.5, the variation range of separation efficiency was small, while D2/A increased But in the range of
0.33–0.4
from 0.4and 0.43–0.5,
to 0.43, the variation
the separation range ofdecreased
efficiency separationfrom efficiency
77.2%was while D2 /Awith
small, Compared
to 75.8%. increased from
the vortex
0.4 to 0.43, the separation efficiency decreased from 77.2% to 75.8%. Compared
finder, the gas outlet tube diameter had a greater influence on the pressure drop. When D2/A with the vortex finder,
the gas outlet
increased from tube diameter
0.33 hadpressure
to 0.5, the a greaterdropinfluence on thefrom
decreased pressure
2065drop.
Pa toWhen D2 /A
934 Pa, andincreased from
the variation
0.33 to 0.5, the
decreased gradually.pressure drop decreased from 2065 Pa to 934 Pa, and the variation decreased gradually.

Figure 10. Effect of the gas outlet tube diameter (D2/A) on efficiency and pressure drop.

The entrance of the gas outlet tube was a high-speed and low-pressure area, as shown in Figure
6, and the gas flow converged here. If the diameter of gas outlet tube was small, the fly ash particles
collided with the wall of gas outlet tube easily when the particles moved to the entrance of the gas
outlet tube, and then falling into the hopper and being separated, which helped to improve the
separation efficiency. With the increase of the diameter of the gas outlet tube, the phenomenon of the
Figure 10. Effect of the gas outlet tube diameter (D /A) on efficiency
(D22/A) efficiency and
and pressure
pressure drop.
drop.

The
The entrance
entranceof ofthe
thegas
gasoutlet
outlettube
tubewas wasaahigh-speed
high-speedandandlow-pressure
low-pressurearea, asas
area, shown
shown inin
Figure 6,
Figure
and thethe
6, and gasgas
flow
flowconverged
converged here.
here.If Ifthe
thediameter
diameterofofgas
gasoutlet
outlettube
tubewas
wassmall,
small,thethefly
fly ash
ash particles
particles
collided
collidedwith
withthethewall
wallofof
gas
gasoutlet tube
outlet tube easily when
easily the particles
when moved
the particles to thetoentrance
moved of the of
the entrance gasthe
outlet
gas
tube,
outletand then
tube, andfalling
theninto the hopper
falling into theand beingand
hopper separated, which helped
being separated, whichto improve
helped tothe separation
improve the
efficiency.
separationWith the increase
efficiency. With the of increase
the diameter of theofdiameter
the gas outlet
of the tube, the phenomenon
gas outlet of the flowofrate
tube, the phenomenon the
Processes 2019, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 16

flow rate rising sharply when the gas reached the gas outlet tube was alleviated, thus making the
flow field
Processes more
2019, 7, 866stable. 11 of 15

3.2.4. The Influence of the Distance between Vortex Finder and Gas Outlet Tube
rising sharply when the gas reached the gas outlet tube was alleviated, thus making the flow field
Figure 11 shows the effects of the distance between vortex finder and gas outlet tube on the
more stable.
separation efficiency and pressure drop of the cyclone flue, and the h2/A varying from 0.83 to 1.5. It
can beThe
3.2.4. seen from theoffigure
Influence that thebetween
the Distance separation efficiency
Vortex Finderincreased at firstTube
and Gas Outlet and then decreased with
the increase of the distance between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube. When h2/A = 1.33, the
Figure 11 shows the effects of the distance between vortex finder and gas outlet tube on the
separation efficiency was the highest, reaching to 76.5%. The pressure drop decreased linearly with
separation efficiency and pressure drop of the cyclone flue, and the h2 /A varying from 0.83 to 1.5. It can
the increase of the distance between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube, and the reduction ratio
be seen from the figure that the separation efficiency increased at first and then decreased with the
was about 5%.
increase of the distance between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube. When h2 /A = 1.33, the
separation efficiency
Gauthier studiedwas
thethe highest,
effect reaching
of the length to
of 76.5%. The pressure
the separation drop
section decreased
(the sum of hlinearly
1 and h2with
) on the
performance
increase of theofdistance
the uniflow cyclone.
between The results
the vortex findershowed
and thethat
gas the separation
outlet tube, andefficiency increased
the reduction ratio first
was
and then
about 5%.decreased with the increase of the separation section [32].

/A) on efficiency and

Figure 11. Effect of the distance between vortex finder and gas outlet tube (h22/A)
drop.
pressure drop.

Gauthier studiedinthe
As the increase theeffect of the
distance length of
between thethe separation
vortex finder section
and gas(the of happropriated,
sumtube
outlet 1 and h2 ) on the
it
performance
allowed enough of the
timeuniflow cyclone.
for particles to The results
converge showed
into thatHowever,
the wall. the separation efficiency
the excessive increased
distance ledfirst
the
and then that
particles decreased withseparated
have been the increase of the separation
to re-enter the centralsection
gas flow[32].
and escape from the gas outlet tube.
As the the
In addition, increase
longerinthethe distance
distance between
between thethe vortex
vortex finder
finder andoutlet
and gas gas outlet tubeand
tube was, appropriated,
the shorter
it
theallowed
length enough
of the gas time for particles
outlet tube wastothen
converge into the
the weaker thewall. However,
interference to the excessive
flow fielddistance led
was, which
the
made particles
the flowthat have
field morebeen separated
stable to re-enter
and decreased thethe central loss.
pressure gas flow and escape from the gas outlet
tube. In addition, the longer the distance between the vortex finder and gas outlet tube was, and the
3.3. Comprehensive
shorter the length Performance Evaluation
of the gas outlet tube was then the weaker the interference to the flow field was,
which made the flow field more stable
The highest separation efficiency and and the
decreased
lowest the pressure
pressure droploss.
cannot always exist at the same
time,Comprehensive
3.3. it is necessaryPerformance
to analyze Evaluation
and evaluate the comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue, and
to ensure high efficiency and low energy loss. The TOPSIS evaluation method is a scientific method
usedThe highest separation
in multi-objective efficiency
decision andof
analysis thelimited
lowestschemes
pressurecommonly,
drop cannotand always exist
it was at the same
developed by
time,
Yoon and Hwang [33]. This method has no special requirement on the sample data, it canflue,
it is necessary to analyze and evaluate the comprehensive performance of the cyclone makeandfull
to
ensure highoriginal
use of the efficiency andand
data, lowitenergy loss. better
can obtain The TOPSIS
resultsevaluation method isthis
[34–36]. Therefore, a scientific
methodmethod
was used used
to
in multi-objective decision analysis of limited schemes commonly, and it was developed
analyze and evaluate the comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue in this study. The steps of by Yoon and
Hwang
the TOPSIS[33].model
This method
were ashas no special requirement on the sample data, it can make full use of the
follows:
original data, and it can obtain better results [34–36]. Therefore, this method was used to analyze and
(1) Establish
evaluate the initial decision
the comprehensive matrix X =of{xthe
performance ij}. Two evaluation
cyclone indexes
flue in this of separation
study. The steps ofefficiency and
the TOPSIS
modelpressure
were asdrop of cyclone flue were considered, and xij is the j-th evaluation index of the i-th
follows:
evaluation object.
(1) Establish the initial decision matrix X = {xij }. Two evaluation indexes of separation efficiency
and pressure drop of cyclone flue were considered, and xij is the j-th evaluation index of the i-th
evaluation object.
Processes 2019, 7, 866 12 of 15

(2) Assimilation of indicator attributes. The inverse method was used to convert low-quality
indicators into high-quality indicators, that is, the higher the value is, the better the performance
will be. The pressure drop was a low-quality indicator, which needed to be converted into a
high-quality indicator to obtain a new matrix X’.
(3) Calculating the standard decision matrix Z. The dimensionless processing of each indicator
can eliminate the effects of dimension and magnitude between different attribute indicators.
The equation was as follows:
v
t m
X
0 0
zij = xij / xij2 (9)
i=1

(4) Calculate the set of positive ideal (S+ ) and negative ideal (S− ) solutions of the decision matrix. S+
is the set of maximum values of each index, that is, when the separation efficiency of the cyclone
flue is the highest, the pressure drop will be the smallest. S− is the set of minimum values of each
index, that is, when the efficiency is lowest, the pressure drop will be largest.
(5) Calculating the Euclidean distances of each evaluation scheme to the S+ and S− . The equations
are as follows: v
n
u
tX
+ 2
di = (s+
j
− zij ) (10)
j=1
v
n
u
tX
d−
i = (s−j − zij )2 (11)
j=1

(6) Calculating the relative proximity (Ci ) of each evaluation scheme to the S+ . The equation is
as follows:
+
Ci = d− −
i / (di + di ) (12)

(7) Ranking according to the value of Ci . the larger the value of Ci is, the closer the scheme to S+ and
the farther away from S− , the better the scheme is.

In this paper, the vortex finder length, the vortex finder diameter, the gas outlet tube diameter,
and the distance between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube were taken as the evaluation objects.
The Ci values were calculated under different structural parameters. The calculation results are listed
in Table 3.

Table 3. Comprehensive performance evaluation of cyclone flue.

Variable 1 Variable 2 Variable 3 Variable 4

h1 /a Ci D1 /A Ci h2 /A Ci D2 /A Ci
1.1 0.91 0.33 0.65 0.83 0 0.33 0.04
1.2 0.73 0.37 0.48 1.00 0.25 0.37 0.21
1.3 0.43 0.40 0.39 1.17 0.48 0.40 0.42
1.4 0.22 0.43 0.11 1.33 0.74 0.43 0.63
1.5 0 0.47 0.01 1.5 0.97 0.47 0.82
/ / / / / / 0.50 0.96

According to the data in Table 3, the comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue was negatively
correlated with the vortex finder diameter and the vortex finder length, while it was positively correlated
with the distance between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube, and gas outlet tube diameter.
When designing the cyclone flue, the vortex finder diameter and the vortex finder length should be
adopted to smaller values, but the distance between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube, and the
gas outlet tube diameter, should be taken to a larger value. In the scope of this study, when h1 /a = 1.1,
Processes 2019, 7, 866 13 of 15

D1 /A = 0.33, h2 /A = 1.5, D2 /A = 0.50, the separation efficiency reached to 75% and the pressure drop
was about 900 Pa, reaching a better comprehensive performance.

4. Conclusions
In this paper, the internal flow field and performance of the adiabatic cyclone flue were studied
by the CFD method. The effects of the vortex finder diameter, vortex finder length, distance between
vortex finder and gas outlet tube, and gas outlet tube diameter on the separation efficiency and
pressure drop of cyclone flue were also studied. Then the TOPSIS method was applied to evaluate the
comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue. The main conclusions are shown as follows:

(1) The inlet of the gas outlet tube of the cyclone flue was a high-speed and low-pressure zone,
where the velocity was the largest and the pressure was the smallest. The internal pressure
was symmetrically distributed along the central axis, which is consistent with the conventional
cyclone. In addition, there was a local vortex at the corner in the flue.
(2) The particle separation efficiency increased at first and then decreased with the increase of the
vortex finder length, the vortex finder diameter, and the distance between the vortex finder and
the gas outlet tube, while it decreased with the increase of the gas outlet tube diameter. Above all,
the gas outlet tube diameter had the most important influence on the separation efficiency.
(3) The pressure drop increased with the increase of the vortex finder length, and the vortex finder
diameter, while it decreased with the increase of the distance between vortex finder and gas outlet
tube, and the gas outlet tube diameter. In addition, the gas outlet tube diameter had the greatest
influence on the pressure drop.
(4) The comprehensive performance of the cyclone flue was negatively correlated with the vortex
finder diameter and the vortex finder length, while it was positively correlated with the distance
between the vortex finder and the gas outlet tube, and the gas outlet tube diameter.
(5) In the scope of this study, when h1 /a = 1.1, D1 /A = 0.33, h2 /A = 1.5, D2 /A = 0.50, the comprehensive
performance of the cyclone flue was better, and the separation efficiency reached to 75%, which can
remove the fly ash in the flue gas effectively, alleviate erosion wear and ash corrosion of the tail
heating surface, and reduce the burden of the bag filter.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, D.-m.C., J.-y.R. and L.Y.; methodology, D.-m.C., J.-y.R., J.-t.N. and Z.-q.Y.;
software, D.-m.C. and J.-t.N.; validation, D.-m.C., J.-y.R. and J.-t.N.; formal analysis, Z.-q.Y. and G.P.; investigation,
D.-m.C. and J.-t.N.; resources, J.-y.R., G.P. and L.Y.; data curation, D.-m.C. and Z.-q.Y.; writing—original draft
preparation, D.-m.C.; writing—review and editing, J.-t.N. and J.Y.R; visualization, G.P. and Z.-q.Y.; supervision,
L.Y.; project administration, J.-y.R.; funding acquisition, J.-y.R.
Funding: This research was funded by KEY INDUSTRIAL GENERIC TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PROJECT
OF CHONGQING, grant number Cstc2016zdcy-ztzx20006.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Abbreviations
Nomenclature
A body edge length (m)
a inlet height (m)
b inlet width (m)
l inlet length (m)
h1 vortex finder length (m)
D1 vortex finder diameter (m)
h2 distance between vortex finder and gas outlet tube (m)
D2 gas outlet tube diameter (m)
H cyclone flue height (m)
Processes 2019, 7, 866 14 of 15

u velocity (m/s)
P pressure (Pa)
ρ density (kg/m3 )
ν kinematic viscosity (m2 /s)
µ dynamic viscosity (Pa·s)
k turbulent kinetic energy (m2 /s2 )
ε turbulent dissipation rate (m2 /s3 )
σ turbulent Prandtl number
Rep relative Reynold’s number
gx gravitational acceleration (m/s2 )
I turbulence intensity (%)
Ci relative proximity coefficient

References
1. Li, M.; Xiang, J.; Hu, S.; Sun, L.S.; Su, S.; Li, P.S.; Sun, X.X. Characterization of solid residues from municipal
solid waste incinerator. Fuel 2004, 83, 1397–1405. [CrossRef]
2. He, J.; Lin, B. Assessment of waste incineration power with considerations of subsidies and emissions in
China. Energy Policy 2019, 126, 190–199. [CrossRef]
3. Niu, J.; Liland, S.E.; Yang, J.; Rout, K.R.; Ran, J.; Chen, D. Effect of oxide additives on the hydrotalcite derived
Ni catalysts for CO2 reforming of methane. Chem. Eng. J. 2019, 377, 119763. [CrossRef]
4. Makarichi, L.; Jutidamrongphan, W.; Techato, K.A. The evolution of waste-to-energy incineration: A review.
Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2018, 91, 812–821. [CrossRef]
5. Wang, P.; Hu, Y.; Cheng, H. Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration fly ash as an important source of
heavy metal pollution in China. Environ. Pollut. 2019, 252, 461–475. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. Valente, T. Fireside corrosion of superheater materials in chlorine containing flue gas. J. Mater. Eng. Perform.
2001, 10, 608–613. [CrossRef]
7. Stieglitz, L.; Bautz, H.; Roth, W.; Zwick, G. Investigation of precursor reactions in the de-novo synthesis of
PCDD/PCDF on fly ash. Chemosphere 1997, 34, 1083–1090. [CrossRef]
8. Gullett, B.K.; Bruce, K.R.; Beach, L.O.; Drago, A.M. Mechanistic steps in the production of PCDD and PCDF
during waste combustion. Chemosphere 1992, 25, 1387–1392. [CrossRef]
9. Zhang, Z.E.; Yan, Y.F.; Zhang, L.; Ju, S.X. Hollow fiber membrane contactor absorption of CO2 from the flue
gas: Review and perspecrive. Glob. Nest J. 2014, 16, 354–373.
10. Niu, J.; Du, X.; Ran, J.; Wang, R. Dry (CO2 ) reforming of methane over Pt catalysts studied by DFT and
kinetic modeling. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2016, 376, 79–90. [CrossRef]
11. Wissing, F.; Wirtz, S.; Scherer, V. Scherer. Simulating municipal solid waste incineration with a DEM/CFD
method-Influences of waste properties, grate and furnace design. Fuel 2017, 206, 638–656. [CrossRef]
12. Zhang, N.; Pan, Z.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, W.; Zhang, L.; Baena-Moreno, F.M.; Lichtfouse, E. CO2 capture from
coalbed methane using membranes: A review. Environ. Chem. Lett. 2019, 8, 1–18. [CrossRef]
13. Xiang, R.B.; Lee, K.W. Numerical study of flow field in cyclones of different height. Chem. Eng. Process. 2005,
44, 877–883. [CrossRef]
14. Raoufi, A.; Shams, M.; Farzaneh, M.; Ebrahimi, R. Numerical simulation and optimization of fluid flow in
cyclone vortex finder. Chem. Eng. Process. Process. Intensif. 2008, 47, 128–137. [CrossRef]
15. Safikhani, H.; Zamani, J.; Musa, M. Numerical study of flow field in new design cyclone separators with one,
two and three tangential inlets. Adv. Powder Technol. 2018, 29, 611–622. [CrossRef]
16. Bogodage, S.G.; Leung, A.Y. CFD simulation of cyclone separators to reduce air pollution. Powder Technol.
2015, 286, 488–506. [CrossRef]
17. Zhang, G.; Chen, G.; Yan, X. Evaluation and improvement of particle collection efficiency and pressure drop
of cyclones by redistribution of dustbins. Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 2018, 139, 52–61. [CrossRef]
18. Parvaz, F.; Hosseini, S.H.; Elsayed, K.; Ahmadi, G. Numerical investigation of effects of inner cone on flow
field, performance and erosion rate of cyclone separators. Sep. Purif. Technol. 2018, 201, 223–237. [CrossRef]
19. Safikhani, H.; Shams, M.; Dashti, S. Numerical simulation of square cyclones in small sizes. Adv. Powder
Technol. 2011, 22, 359–365. [CrossRef]
Processes 2019, 7, 866 15 of 15

20. Su, Y.; Zheng, A.; Zhao, B. Numerical simulation of effect of inlet configuration on square cyclone separator
performance. Powder Technol. 2011, 210, 293–303. [CrossRef]
21. Raoufi, A.; Shams, M.; Kanani, H. CFD analysis of flow field in square cyclones. Powder Technol. 2009, 191,
349–357. [CrossRef]
22. Oh, J.; Choi, S.; Kim, J. Numerical simulation of an internal flow field in a uniflow cyclone separator. Powder
Technol. 2015, 274, 135–145. [CrossRef]
23. Fatahian, H.; Fatahian, E.; Nimvari, M.E. Improving efficiency of conventional and square cyclones using
different configurations of the laminarizer. Powder Technol. 2018, 339, 232–243. [CrossRef]
24. Fatahian, H.; Fatahian, E.; Nimvari, M.E. Numerical investigation of the effect of the cylindrical height on
separation performances of uniflow hydrocyclone. Chem. Eng. Sci. 2015, 122, 500–513.
25. Cen, K.F. Theoretical Design and Operation of CFB Boiler; China Electric Power Press: Beijing, China, 1998.
(In Chinese)
26. Su, Y.; Mao, Y. Experimental study on the gas-solid suspension flow in a square cyclone separator. Chem.
Eng. J. 2006, 121, 51–58. [CrossRef]
27. Zhou, H.; Hu, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Wang, Q.; Lv, X. Numerical study on gas-solid flow characteristics of ultra-light
particles in a cyclone separator. Powder Technol. 2019, 344, 784–796. [CrossRef]
28. Vavva, C.; Voutsas, E.; Magoulas, K. Process development for chemical stabilization of fly ash from municipal
solid waste incineration. Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 2017, 125, 57–71. [CrossRef]
29. Bayuseno, A.P.; Schmahl, W.W. Characterization of MSWI fly ash through mineralogy and water extraction.
Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2011, 55, 524–534. [CrossRef]
30. Loginova, E.; Proskurnin, M.; Brouwers, H.J.H. Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash composition
analysis: A case study of combined chelatant-based washing treatment efficiency. J. Environ. Manag. 2019,
235, 480–488. [CrossRef]
31. Triesch, O.; Bohnet, M. Measurement and CFD prediction of velocity and concentration profiles in a
decelerated gas-solid flow. Powder Technol. 2001, 155, 101–113. [CrossRef]
32. Gauthier, T.A.; Briens, C.L.; Bergougnou, M.A.; Galtier, P. Uniflow cyclone efficiency study. Powder Technol.
1990, 62, 217–225. [CrossRef]
33. Hwang, C.L.; Yoon, K. Multiple Attribute Decision Making: Methods and Applications a State-of-the-Art Survey;
Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 1981.
34. Wang, C.N.; Tsai, T.T.; Huang, Y.F. A Model for Optimizing Location Selection for Biomass Energy Power
Plants. Processes 2019, 7, 353. [CrossRef]
35. Wang, C.N.; Huang, Y.F.; Cheng, I.; Nguyen, V. A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) Approach Using
Hybrid SCOR Metrics, AHP, and TOPSIS for Supplier Evaluation and Selection in the Gas and Oil Industry.
Processes 2018, 6, 252. [CrossRef]
36. Jin, L.; Zhang, C.; Fei, X. Realizing Energy Savings in Integrated Process Planning and Scheduling. Processes
2019, 7, 120. [CrossRef]

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).