Cyclone Separators
Remove coarse, dry particulate from process gas with no filter media and no moving internal parts. Use a cyclone as a low-cost standalone collector, or as a pre-separator that protects your final filter.
What is it
A cyclone separator, also called a cyclonic separator, cyclone collector or inertial separator, removes particulate from a gas stream by spinning it. Gas enters tangentially and forms a vortex. Heavier particles are thrown to the wall and fall to a dust outlet, while cleaned gas leaves through a central outlet at the top.
Inertial separators are the simplest type of dust collector. They are used to reduce the volume of particles in an air or gas stream, or as a pre-separator ahead of collectors that achieve higher efficiencies. Nederman MikroPul high efficiency cyclone dust collectors are a cost-effective way to separate dry particulate larger than 5 microns (0.2 thousandths of an inch) from gas streams.
Cyclones are among the simplest and most economical dust collectors to buy, install and run.
Abrasive, hot, sticky or corrosive dust needs more than a standard vessel. Nederman MikroPul can custom design these enhancements as required.
When the dust in the gas is dry and larger than 5 microns (0.2 thousandths of an inch).
For finer particulate or tight emission limits, pair the cyclone with a baghouse dust collector or a wet scrubber as the final stage.
How it works
Cyclonic separation uses the energy of the gas flow itself. There is no filter to clog and nothing inside to drive, so the whole process comes down to geometry and inertia.
Dust-laden gas enters the upper barrel through a tangential inlet, so it starts to spin around the wall instead of flowing straight through.
The gas spirals down the barrel and into the cone. As the cone narrows, the rotation speeds up and the centrifugal force on each particle increases.
Particles are denser than the gas carrying them, so their inertia carries them outward to the wall, where they lose speed and drop out of the flow. This is why cyclones are also called inertial separators.
Separated dust slides down the cone wall and discharges through the dust outlet into a hopper, conveyor or back into your process.
Near the bottom of the cone the gas reverses into a tighter inner vortex. It rises up the centre and leaves through the outlet tube, often called the vortex finder.
The outer vortex carries dust down to the wall and discharge. The inner vortex carries cleaned gas up and out.
The Products
Three designs cover standalone collection, high-volume pre-separation and long duct runs.
High efficiency cyclone dust collectors for separating dry particulate larger than 5 microns from gas streams. Supplied in single, twin or quad arrangements.
Best for: standalone collection or pre-separation of dry, coarse dust
A modified cyclone for high air volumes. One Skimmer can take the place of two standard cyclones, reducing the number of pre-separators you need.
Best for: pre-separation at high air volumes
A lower-cost version of a pre-separator, intended only for installations with long ductwork of more than 50 metres.
Best for: pre-separation on duct runs longer than 50 m
Configurations
A cyclone can be the whole collection system, or the first stage that makes the rest of your system last longer.
Complete filtration system
High efficiency cyclones can be used as standalone filtration systems. Because they work harder to capture more of the dust, they may require more energy and have higher running costs.
They suit dry, coarse particulate where a cyclone alone meets your collection target.
First stage ahead of a final filter
As pre-separators, cyclones reduce the dust load reaching a final, more efficient filter. They also act as protective devices, removing large hot particles from the gas stream before they can damage filter media.
Lower efficiency cyclones are often more effective in this role. They let a better mix of particle sizes reach the filter, which can extend the working life of the filter bags downstream.
Which to choose
Selection starts with your dust and your air flow: dust load, particle size, temperature, and the volume of gas you need to move.
| Your situation | Recommended option | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Dry dust above 5 µm, collected at low cost | High efficiency cyclone dust collector | Works as the complete filtration system; may use more energy and cost more to run |
| Protecting a baghouse or other final filter | Lower efficiency cyclone as a pre-separator | Removes large, hot particles and lets a better mix of particle sizes reach the filter media |
| High dust loads (50–100 gr/ft³) | Large-diameter cyclone | Handles heavy loading at a low pressure drop |
| Low dust loads needing higher efficiency | Narrow, small-diameter cyclone | Higher collection efficiency, at a higher pressure drop |
| Pre-separation at high air volumes | Skimmer | One Skimmer takes the place of two standard cyclones |
| Long ductwork, over 50 m | Spin pre-separator | Lower-cost pre-separator for long duct runs |
Cyclone diameter sets the trade-off between collection efficiency, dust load and pressure drop.
| Narrow (small-diameter) | Large-diameter | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | High collection efficiency at low dust loads | Efficiently handles high dust loads |
| Dust load | 0.23–13.7 g/m³ (0.1–6 gr/ft³) | 114.4–228.8 g/m³ (50–100 gr/ft³) |
| Pressure drop | 1.49–2.49 kPa (6–10 in w.c.) | 0.37–0.75 kPa (1.5–3 in w.c.) |
High efficiency cyclones are built for standalone filtration and may need more energy to run. Lower efficiency cyclones are often the better choice ahead of a final filter or dust collector, because the wider mix of particle sizes reaching the filter can extend media life.
When the job is pre-separation rather than final collection, two specialised designs can reduce equipment count or cost. The Skimmer is a modified cyclone for high air volumes, where one unit can replace two standard cyclones. The Spin pre-separator is a lower-cost option, but only for installations with ductwork longer than 50 metres.
After evaluating your application, Nederman MikroPul custom selects:
Applications
Nederman MikroPul cyclones handle dry particulate across heavy industry, food and consumer goods, and pneumatic conveying.
Common things to know
Answers to common questions about cyclone separators
Connect with Nederman MikroPul to improve your dust collection.
Last updated: September 2026
Cyclones are most effective when the dust is dry and larger than 5 microns (0.2 thousandths of an inch). Nederman MikroPul high efficiency cyclone dust collectors are designed to separate dry particulate above 5 microns. For finer particulate, a cyclone is usually paired with a baghouse or other final filter.
Yes. The terms are used interchangeably for the same kind of equipment. “Cyclone separator” emphasises the separation principle, while “cyclone dust collector” emphasises the job it does. See our cyclone dust collectors for the Nederman MikroPul high efficiency range.
It depends on your particle size and emission target. A cyclone is a low-cost choice for dry, coarse dust above 5 microns and for high dust loads, with no filter media to replace. A baghouse captures much finer particulate. Many systems use both: the cyclone removes the bulk of the dust and any large hot particles, and the baghouse handles what remains.
Sizing starts with your gas flow rate, dust load, particle size, temperature and dust characteristics. From that evaluation, Nederman MikroPul custom selects the arrangement (single, twin or quad), outlet-to-inlet relationships, barrel length and cone length. Contact our engineers with your process data for a selection.
Smaller-diameter cyclones collect more efficiently than large ones, at the cost of a higher pressure drop, so running several narrow cyclones in a twin or quad arrangement is a common approach. Where emission limits are strict, add a final filter downstream. Keeping the dust outlet sealed against air leaking in also helps the cyclone perform as designed.
A Skimmer is a modified cyclone designed for high air volumes. One Skimmer can take the place of two standard cyclones, which reduces the number of pre-separators needed in a system.
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