Cyclone Filters in Automotive Production: A Review

To protect human health and the environment, it is necessary to reduce the number of solid particles and harmful gases in the air or to minimize such pollution. Filtration and separation devices are intended for various industrial operations to capture pollutants from various technological processes. In the introduction, this article points out the use of cyclone filters in individual operations, names the most frequently occurring elements of pollution, and suggests the most suitable method of separation. In paint shops, grinding shops, welding workplaces, machining lines, and when handling powder materials, particles with very different properties are created. An important advantage of using cyclone filters is not only their simple construction but also their usability at high temperatures and pressures. Furthermore, this article highlights that cyclones are easy to maintain, typically contain no moving parts, are simple to manufacture, and are cost-effective, particularly as pre-filtration devices. Their efficiency generally ranges from 50% to 99% and is strongly influenced by design and operating parameters, especially cyclone geometry, which affects pressure drop, flow structure, cut diameter, and fractional collection efficiency. The article also summarizes that various modifications of the inlet, vortex finder, outlet pipe, and cyclone body have been proposed to enhance separation performance, particularly for smaller particles. Nevertheless, due to the centrifugal and inertial nature of cyclone separation, fine and submicrometric particulate matter remains difficult to remove using cyclones alone. Fabric filters are also analyzed as a possible solution, but high loading by coarse particles may cause clogging, increased pressure drop, and higher maintenance costs. In the end, the combination of a cyclone with an electrostatic precipitator is presented as a staged separation approach, enabling efficient removal of both coarse particles and fine particulate matter from the gas stream.