INTRODUCTION

Precleaner is used in Engine Air Intake system for supplying cleaned air to the combustion chamber by separating dust particles. It is very important that Precleaner should separate out maximum dust particles from the fresh air before it enters combustion chamber by keeping the total pressure drop (back pressure) across the Precleaner within critical limit. CFD helps in understanding the trajectories of various sizes of dust particles within Precleaner and it also helps in determining the dust separation ability of Precleaner.

CHALLENGES

• Identifying design flaw in fin for more pressure drop and less dust particle separation efficiency.
• Identifying appropriate design parameter to be modified for optimized results.
• Keeping the total pressure drop (back pressure) below critical limit while modifying the Precleaner design.

THE SOLUTION

Flow analysis of Precleaner was done to observe the dust particle trajectory, dust separation efficiency and pressure drop across the Pre-cleaner. CFD helps in determining the swirl generation and dust particle separation ability of Pre-cleaner. CFD also helps in identifying the regions of higher pressure drop and eliminate them. Based on the CFD analysis results of initial case, various design parameters are selected for improving the overall performance of Pre-cleaner. Various design modifications are carried out on the selected critical design parameters of Precleaner. CFD analysis was carried out for all design modification iterations which helped in assessing the Precleaner performance for those iterations. Based on CFD analysis results of all cases studied, best performing case was selected and further CFD analysis of this case was carried out for various flow rates, which helped in determining the operating range of Precleaner.

BENEFITS

• Quick design modifications for optimum performance.
• Cost-effective solution for reduced number of trials with improved dust separation efficiency.