Abstract

A cyclone separator comprising at least a primary portion having generally the form of a volume of revolution and having a first end and a second end, the diameter at said second end being less than at said first end, at least one inlet, the or each said inlet having at least a tangential component at or adjacent said first end for introducing feed to be separated into the cyclone separator, and the separator further including at least two outlets, one at each end of the primary portion, in which cyclone separator the following parameters are related according to a specified set of design and operating conditions as defined in claim 1: (i) diameter of the primary portion where flow enters, d1 : (ii) projection of the cross sectional area of xth inlet, Aix; (iii) diameter of the primary portion at point Z2, d2 ; (iv) distance along the cyclone separator axis from the inlet, Z; (v) diameter of the cyclone at Z, d, (vi) axial position of the xth inlet, Zx : (vii) half angle of convergence of the separation section, ଱, (viii) position of the second end of the primary portion, d3 : (ix) diameter of the outlet at the first end of the primary portion, d0.