An optical technique to determine the total collection efficiency of a cylone

An experimental method is proposed to determine the total collection efficiency of a cyclone. An optical technique is utilized to measure and calculate the total collection efficiency by integrating the area below the size distribution curve upstream and downstream of the cyclone by a particle counter-sizer-velocimeter. The results show that the size distribution upstream and downstream of the cyclone is almost a smooth curve. It could be used to calculate the total collection efficiency. The measured total efficiency by the particle counter-sizer-velocimeter is 2-3% higher than that measured by the weighing method. This close agreement between the two methods suggests that the total collection efficiency may be determined by the optical technique. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.