Thermal and Flow Analysis of a Cyclone Chamber for Palm Kernel Shell Gasification Using CFD and MATLAB/Simulink

The SIMULINK tool is used for modeling cyclone chambers. The cyclone gasification system is a process-intensified system that acts as both a gasifier to generate combustible gases and a gas cleaner to separate unburned particles from the gas flow. This suggests a dynamic simulation approach, which is common in engineering and scientific research for system analysis. A temperature inlet of 4000C and 2 bars respectively, was maintained for the simulation time, leading to a gradual increase in fluid thermal conductivity at each of the sections of the cyclone. The model includes constraints, reflecting a practical approach that considers real-world limitations. A notable temperature increases from 1500°C to a final temperature of 2700°C was observed during the simulation, demonstrating a thorough examination of extreme operational conditions. Heat fluctuation in the vortex finder was detected, caused by the gas reversal kinetic force leaving the cyclone. The temperature behavior is typical in high-temperature systems. The system gains enthalpy when the gas stream undergoes anti-reversal flow from the lower exit, indicating energy transfer processes. Turbulence intensity increased with flow restrictions, highlighting how system design influences fluid dynamics. The study identified turbulence's impact on heat and mass transfer processes. It specifically focused on the heat and mass release of Palm Kernel shell gases, demonstrating practical application in biomass gasification. Some of the key software simulation packages which were employed during the work are Aspen Hysys, Autodesk Inventor, Ansys and Minitab. The calculation shows that collection efficiency for particle size of 13.18mm is 93. 4%. The modeling and simulation results supported the development of a 3D model of the cyclone, emphasizing the role of computer-aided design in optimizing cyclone structure. Overall, this research provides a detailed analysis of the thermal behavior and optimization of cyclone chambers, with a particular focus on gasification processes using Palm Kernel shells.