Flue deposition

Figure 1: The velocity distribution and motion of particles within a ductwork system. This example illustrates significant deposition of larger particles, attributable to both a sizeable recirculation zone and an increase in duct diameter.

Many industrial processes result in particulate matter that is transported through ductwork to a particle collection system. This includes smelters, incineration plants, manufacturing and mineral processing facilities. Flue deposition can lead to a build-up of material and negatively impact the flow, requiring costly maintenance shutdowns and exposing maintenance staff to high levels of particulate. Deposition typically occurs in dead zones with low velocity and is affected by the parameters such as particle material, particle size, gas flow rate and duct geometry.

Removing stagnant regions and achieving a uniform pipe flow by redesigning the pipe can solve flue deposition issues .

Synergetics engineers performed investigations of flue deposition within ducting systems and pipes using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques. The result can be used to identify low-velocity regions and whether they are contributing to the build-up of particles. Understanding the flow situation enables the design and verification of solutions to minimise dead zones and improve system performance.

Figure 2: Particles within the duct coloured by velocity magnitude. The particles maintain significant momentum into the bend, before rebounding off the duct wall.