This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Open AccessArticle
Cyclone Shapes for Sand and Microplastic Separation: Efficiency and Reynolds Number Relationships
by
Insun Kang
Insun Kang 1,
Wonjun Seo
Wonjun Seo 2,
Seokyeon Im
Seokyeon Im 1,* and
Kwonse Kim
Kwonse Kim 3,*
1
Mechanical Engineering Education Department, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
2
Mechanical Engineering Department, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
3
Automotive Engineering Department, Ajou Motor College, Boryeong-si 33415, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Separations 2024, 11(8), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11080222 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 June 2024
/
Revised: 16 July 2024
/
Accepted: 18 July 2024
/
Published: 23 July 2024
Abstract
In this study, three geometries were analyzed for sand and microplastic separation to confirm the applicability of cyclones. This research aimed to apply plastic-based samples such as Styrofoam, PET, PP, and PU to an analytical model, characterized by separating sand spread on Korean beaches into different outlets using a cyclone model. Regarding the numerical analysis, the results of sand particle separation were analyzed by designing a general cyclone (Type A), a cone-shaped cyclone (Type B), and a cone-shaped cyclone (Type C) with double the cone length, for four microplastics in three shapes. The results of the analysis of the characteristics showed that Type B, which has a conical shape, achieved an efficiency of 99.3–100% for sand, 72.7% for Styrofoam, and 95.7–100% for other plastics at an exit speed of 5–7 m/s, after which the efficiency decreased as the speed increased. Type C showed an efficiency of 92.2–100% for sand, 66.6–70.8% for Styrofoam, and 61% for PET at 5–10 m/s. Type C showed a maximum efficiency of 95.5% for PP and 73.4% for PU at 11 m/s. As the speed increased, the efficiency decreased. This is believed to be due to differences in the Reynolds number range, which helps separate particles depending on their shape; therefore, the applicability of the cone-shaped cyclone separator for sand and microplastic separation was confirmed, and it was found that an optimal speed condition exists in relation to the Reynolds number.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Kang, I.; Seo, W.; Im, S.; Kim, K.
Cyclone Shapes for Sand and Microplastic Separation: Efficiency and Reynolds Number Relationships. Separations 2024, 11, 222.
https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11080222
AMA Style
Kang I, Seo W, Im S, Kim K.
Cyclone Shapes for Sand and Microplastic Separation: Efficiency and Reynolds Number Relationships. Separations. 2024; 11(8):222.
https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11080222
Chicago/Turabian Style
Kang, Insun, Wonjun Seo, Seokyeon Im, and Kwonse Kim.
2024. "Cyclone Shapes for Sand and Microplastic Separation: Efficiency and Reynolds Number Relationships" Separations 11, no. 8: 222.
https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11080222
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details
here.
Article Metrics
Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.