FLUID DYNAMICS IN INTERBLADE CHANNELS OF VORTEX SEPARATION DEVICE WITH AXIAL SWIRLER

NGZUUK

Abstract

Vortex-type gas-liquid devices are widely used for separation of dispersed phase from continuous gas flow. The efficiency of separation devices with vane swirlers is determined by their hydrodynamic characteristics. The article is devoted to theoretical study of fluid dynamics and separation of dispersed phase in a vortex separation device with axial swirler for gas flow. The efficiency of such devices depends on the amount of liquid separated on the blades, on the dispersion of droplets flying through the swirler channels, including those formed as a result of breaking up the film of separated liquid. The calculation results will help to determine the optimal dimensions and shape of the swirler interblade channels taking into account the dispersion of droplets, which helps to improve the separation efficiency. A numerical model for calculating the motion of the dispersed phase in the swirler channel is presented. The trajectories of the droplets are calculated in a swirling gas flow taking into account the main forces acting on them. An equation is proposed for determining the trajectory of a droplet in the gap of the blades of an axial swirler of the vortex separation device. The motion of droplets with a diameter of 0.01 to 1 mm at an average gas flow rate of 20 m/s was considered. The calculation was performed in two stages; when comparing the calculation results, the discrepancy of the trajectories did not exceed 18%. It was found that during the motion of the dispersed phase in the interblade channel of the swirler, active interaction of the droplets with the surface of the blades is observed. Large-diameter droplets settle faster on the surface of the swirler, forming a liquid film, while small droplets slip through the gaps of the axial swirler.