STUDIES ON HYDRODYNAMICS OF VORTEX DUST COLLECTOR WITH VISUALIZATION OF RUNNING PROCESSES AND DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VORTEX FLOW INTERACTION
Introduction. Nowadays the development of a method for controlling the interaction of swirling flows in vortex dust collectors to ensure their high efficiency in specific production conditions is of utmost importance. The scientific task is to establish operating parameters and determine their intervals for the development of a control method based on the study of the hydrodynamics of vortex flows interaction in a transparent cylindrical separation chamber of a dust collector. Materials and methods. A laboratory model of a vortex dust collector and an experimental unit equipped with testing and controlling instruments were used. Hydrodynamic studies were carried out by standard methods. Results. New dependences of hydraulic resistance and collection efficiency on the total volumetric flow rate of dust-free and dusty gas, flow rate, and concentration of fine particles of fodder dust were obtained. The formation of a «rotating ring» of dispersed material in the separation chamber was first established, the structure, thickness and height of its formation depending on the change in the flow rate k = 0,35÷0,5. There were determined the optimal intervals of change in operating parameters: hydrodynamic mode of operation of the vortex dust collector is in the range of flow rate k = 0,6÷0,8; the mode of heat and mass transfer processes is in the range of k = 0,35÷0,5. Conclusions. A method for controlling interacting vortex flows in devices for cleaning gases from fine-dispersed particles has been developed, thus making it possible to ensure high collection efficiency at a low hydraulic resistance.