| This work concerns the investigation of hydrodynamic instability and instability induced wave formation in a cyclone. The existence of instability and the nature of the wave motion have been studied by a combined use of various experimental methods--such as flow visualization, pressure drop measurement, and flow spectral analysis--over a range of Reynolds number. The flow visualization revealed a radial oscillatory vortex along the circular fluid motion with wave numbers of 4 at Re equal to 500. The pressure drop data across a cyclone measured by a pressure transducer shows two distinctive characteristics which correspond to two different flow patterns. The transition regime of these two patterns showed the dual pressure drop state with random alternation. The flow spectral analysis, by using hot-wire anemometry and FFT analyzer, confirmed that these two states correspond to the wave motion (periodic in time domain) and transition to turbulence (non-periodic with broad band spectrum), respectively.; Experimental results indicate that the cyclone flow experiences four flow regimes, namely: stationary flow (0 2000).; The theoretical analysis of the onset of instability induced wave motion is studied by linear theory. The criterion of destabilization of the flow involves the pressure profile, angular velocity profile in a cyclone, and Reynolds number as well. This theory has a good agreement with the experimental observations. The effect of the wave components on the particle collection in a cyclone is then evaluated by a numerical method. For particles with 8 micron in diameter, the collection efficiency can be improved up to 30% in the wave motion compared with that of pure circular motion. The mechanism of the dual state, which is the transition from the wave motion to non-periodic motion, is similar to that of the intermittent turbulence in pipe flow. For the design of a cyclone and the development of a scaling law, these four regimes have to be distinguished. |
