Optimization and Assessment of the Comprehensive Performance of an Axial Separator by Response Surface Methodology

The separator with inner channels is designed to solve the inefficiency caused by particle collisions with the wall. Then the response surface methodology is used to optimize this novel separator with the aim of maximizing the separation efficiency and exhaust rate while minimizing the pressure drop simultaneously. Firstly, the Reynolds Stress model and the Euler-Euler model are taken to compare the novel and conventional structures. Secondly, five factors, including inlet velocity (v) of air-particle flow, number of inner channels, axial angle of inner channels, height of inner channels, and number of guide vanes, are selected in the Box-Behnken Design. Thirdly, the quadratic regression equations are established in multi-objective optimization. The research results demonstrate that separation efficiency is improved but the pressure drop is increased in the novel design. Additionally, too large inner channels can lead to a decrease in separation efficiency. The increased height of the inner channels has the most positive impact on the exhaust rate. And the optimization amplitude of the pressure drop is the most remarkable, which is presented as 13.87% at v = 2.5 m/s, 34.49% at v = 4.5 m/s, and 75.49% at v = 6.5 m/s, respectively. Furthermore, the separation efficiency of optimized designs is higher than that of conventional ones at each velocity. The relevant research results can provide an effective guide for improving the efficiency of separators.