98% Efficiency at 10 Microns | Slug Handling
Understand cyclone separation principles, centrifugal force calculations, and single-cyclone separator design
Lapple cut size & grade efficiency:
Notes:
• Efficiency is computed, not assumed
• Axial velocity band 5–30 ft/s (GPSA §7)
• Ne = 5 turns, swirl Vi ≈ 4·vaxial
• Handles liquid slugs; cone bottom for solids
References: Lapple, C.E. (1951), Chem. Eng. 58(5):144–151; Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook 8th ed. §17 (Gas–Solid Separations); GPSA Engineering Data Book §7 (Separation Equipment).
A cyclosep separator is an axial inline cyclonic device for gas-liquid and gas-solid separation. Its separation efficiency is computed from the Lapple cyclone cut-size model and varies with swirl velocity, body geometry, gas viscosity and droplet density, with built-in slug handling capability.
Efficiency is computed with the Lapple (1951) grade-efficiency model. The cut size d50 = √[9·μg·b / (2π·Ne·Vi·(ρp−ρg))] is found from gas viscosity, the swirl/annular geometry, the tangential velocity and the droplet-to-gas density difference; the grade efficiency at the target particle size is η(dp) = 1 / (1 + (d50/dp)²).
Cyclosep separators offer a 3:1 turndown ratio, allowing them to operate efficiently across a wide range of flow conditions.
Cyclosep separators are used for gas-liquid and gas-solid separation in midstream applications where slug handling and high-efficiency removal at small particle sizes are required.