Do I need a cellular sluice for a cyclone?

A cell sluice used under the cyclone blocks the flow of air through the lower outlet (forcing all air to flow through the upper outlet), while allowing material to dump through the lower outlet of the cyclone. Without the use of a cell lock, air can escape through the bottom outlet of the cyclone, causing unwanted blowing of material. There can also be a situation where air is sucked in through the bottom outlet (even if the cyclone is operating on the positive pressure side), resulting in dust being sucked upward and degrading separation efficiency. Often both phenomena occur simultaneously, i.e. the air is sucked in the middle part of the outlet section and blown right up against the walls of the device. These are unfavorable phenomena, and a target lock is used to eliminate them.

Case 1 - cyclone with a canopy

In most cases there is no need for a cellular airlock. Cyclones manufactured by MOVIMET AIR are designed so that when operating on the positive pressure side of the canopy version, the air flow through the lower outlet is ("blast") as small as possible.

When might a cellular airlock be necessary?

• When the cyclone is placed behind a building in such a way that wind gusts can cause disturbances to the cyclone (sometimes the terrain itself can cause a similar effect),
• When you want the sawdust to fall completely freely, without gusts (the air under the cyclone without a target lock is in a swirling motion)

Case 2 - cyclone with a return spiral (regardless of whether it works on vacuum or positive pressure).

It is necessary to use a cell sluice or a sealed tank at the bottom of the cyclone. Otherwise, a large amount of air will be blown or sucked through the bottom outlet of the cyclone.

Case 3 - cyclone with a tightly sealed tank

A sealed tank under the cyclone forces zero average flow through the bottom outlet, but does not eliminate the phenomenon of air movement in opposite directions through the bottom outlet of the cyclone. The use of a cell sluice is not necessary, but is advisable if there is a phenomenon of re-suction of dust from the tank to the cyclone.