B Flow Distribution in Parallel Demisting Cyclones

It is apparent from an inspection of Ekjs. (13.B.3) and (13.B.4) that a back cyclone experiences a different volumetric flow rate than either of the two front cyclones. Since the inlet duct areas are the same for each cyclone, the ratio of these flow rates is also the same as the ratio of the average inlet velocities  

And so we find that the imbalance is a function of the coefficient n or, according to Eq. (13.B.2), the friction factor, /. If the gas were not retarded by wall friction at all, then f = 0, n goes to infinity and the RHS of Eq. (13.B.5) becomes unity. This would correspond to an absolutedly flat velocity profile within the main inlet duct, and, hence, no inlet flow maldistribution. 

The total pressure of the gas phase near the liquid surface, i.e., the underflow of either the front cyclones (subscript F) is  

Likewise, the total pressure at the underflow of either back cyclone is  

Subtracting Eq. (13.B.6) from (13.B.7) and canceling out the two static pressure terms gives the difference in pressure at the bottom (gas/liquid interface) between the front and back cyclone(s)  

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B Flow Distribution in Parallel Demisting Cyclones 317 13.B.1 Calculation of Flow Distribution... 

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