Research on dust suppression technology and structural optimization of cylindrical vortex air curtains based on artificial tornado mechanism

Abstract

Particulate matter generated during industrial production processes has long posed a significant threat to workers’ health and safety while contaminating the surrounding environment. The columnar vortex ventilation technique has shown promise in mitigating localized dust pollution; however, its practical application is hindered by challenges such as complex device manufacturing and suboptimal dust removal efficiency. To address these issues, this study proposes a cylindrical vortex-controlled dust removal device with a simplified design and enhanced performance, achieved through the optimization of air supply modes and the structural refinement of the air supply groove. Using the Euler-Lagrange approach, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to simulate the coupled behavior of airflow and dust diffusion. The impact of various air supply modes and groove structures on airflow organization and dust dispersion was systematically analyzed. Results indicate that the ‘side air supply-top’ mode generates the most effective vortex field for dust removal. Among the design parameters, the width (W) of the air supply slot was found to have a more pronounced effect on the airflow field than the length (L). As W increases, the jet airflow transitions from an ‘oblique impinging jet’ to a ‘direct impinging jet’, resulting in a dust removal efficiency trend characterized by an initial increase, followed by a decrease, and then another increase. When L ≥ 50 mm, further increases in slot length stabilize the dust removal rate at approximately 85.30 %. A prototype cylindrical vortex-controlled dust removal device was constructed, and simulation results were validated through experimental testing, with an overall relative error within 13 %, confirming the high accuracy of the simulations. This research provides valuable design parameters and practical guidance for implementing columnar vortex dust control ventilation systems in industrial environments.