Separation of sub-micron particles in flowing air streams: CFD modelling and design optimization

Classification and separation of solid particles immersed within an air stream plays a crucial role in aerosol separation, air filtration, fine particle recovery, and many other applications. Particle separators divide a mixture of different-sized solid particles in a flowing gas stream into fine and coarse streams. IMASCO Minerals produces ultrafine dry ground calcium carbonate (CaCO3) power for use in the agri-tech and industrial minerals sectors. IMASCO wishes to offer a new nanopowder product with a mean particle size of <1µm, which its current technology cannot achieve. Therefore, this project aims to develop an ultrafine industrial particle separator for nanometer-scale powders. The research will use computational fluid dynamics to investigate the turbulent multiphase flow of ultrafine particles to guide the design optimization of the prototype separator device.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joshua Brinkerhoff;Ri (Sunny) Li

Student:

Partner:

Imasco Minerals Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Mining

University:

The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program: