An experimental study on performance and structural improvements of a novel elutriator

Abstract

During the transportation and packaging of low density polyethylene (LDPE) granular materials, fine dusts such as floccules, powder and fiber will be produced, which pollute the envi-ronment, affect product quality and generate fire hazards. In this work, the separation performance of fine dust and optimal operating conditions of an improved elutriator were investigated experi-mentally. Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of air speed, feeding speed, and grid layout on the removal efficiency of fine particles. Experimental data showed that the separation efficiency of the novel elutriator ranged from 96% to 98.50%, which was more stable and an average of 51.44% higher than that of the original elutriator. By setting internals and improving the structure, the gas flow field in the equipment was regulated, the particle dispersion was intensified, and the static electricity was eliminated, which significantly improved the separation efficiency of fine dust.