Back to basics.

I thought it'd be a good idea to purchase a dust collector for my garage.  It's always been a dusty mess.  OK, it's all relative, but it'd be nice to control dust, dirt, and stuff.  In doing my research, I felt it was necessary to step up to a two stage dust collector.  Basically, the huge vacuum cleaner ("dust collector") will pull vacuum through a trash can.  The trash can will work as a dust collector.  This means, all the nasty stuff will be in the trash can, and the actual vacuum cleaner will not see any/little dust/debris.  This means easier servicing, no clogged filters, longer motor life, etc..etc..etc..

I chose this design, as it was the simplest by far. (used with out permission)

http://www.woodcraft.com/Articles/Articles.aspx?ArticleId=408

So far, I've spent 29.99 on a 32 Gallon Trash Can.  I plan to mount it above the blower motor on a shelf.  That way, I'm using as little footprint as possible in my little two car garage (that still holds two cars).

For my cubic feet per minute (CF/M) variable, I used 500CF/M based on Bill Pentz data.  I chose 500CF/M, because that's worst case (hopefully).  (used with out permission)

http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/DCBasics.cfm

So I entered in a few models into Catia and generated some fluid dynamics to determine the best port setup...

First up, is based completely on the WoodCraft design.   I like how it tumbles out and water falls all the way down the walls, before being sucked into the vacuum. 

Second on deck, is based on the woodcraft design, but I added a 90* elbow.  Tons of swirl.  The longer the dust/dirt/chafe is in the can, the better the chance I have that it will drop out of the airflow and settle in the bottom.  What I do notice about this one that I do not like is the teal blue lines that cross over and around the top... Straight from the inlet, right into the outlet.  Not idea... BUT, it sure has lots of cyclonic action going on otherwise.  Maybe a diverter can assist me.  More modeling and analysis may be needed.

So what would happen if I have one port pointed one way, and just a straight pipe about 270 degrees out around the can... I'm not sure what to thing of this one.  Lots of tumble.  and Generally just a mess.  Is this a GOOD thing?  I couldn't find many short/direct runs when analyzing the results in 3D.  It tumbles out of the inlet port (dirty air enters the straight pipe) hits the bottom, and then gets sucked up through the 90.  What I don't like is that there is no cyclonic action going on.

Now THIS is a cyclone!  Wow.   Tons and TONS of swirl.  But does this mean it will perform better then the second one?  I don't know, but I like this one.  I may do some more research and move one of the pipes 45 degrees closer... more research.

I spent one evening of my time (about 3 hours), making all the models.  Then it took me another evening to perform the Computational Fluid Dynamics on all four models, and generate the pictures.  (4 Hours).

As always, comments are always welcome here.

Total Cost to date: $29.oo Trash Can plus $129.oo for the Dust Collector (Harbor Freight Model, on Sale + Coupon)