Under conditions with different droplet diameters

structural sensitivity of the prototype swirl-vane separator was analyzed

including the swirl-vane angle and the height of the rising channel. On the basis of the Euler approach and Realizable K-Epsilon turbulence model

the mathematical model of the air-droplets two-phase flow was established. Moreover

the CFD software was employed to simulate the flow field of five types of swirl-vane separator under cold working condition. The change curves of the separation efficiency and the radial distribution of droplets mass flow were obtained

with different droplet diameters. At the same time

a cold test was carried out to verify the numerical model. The results show that

when the droplet diameter equaled 5 μm or was greater than 100 μm

the separation efficiency of the swirl-vane separator was not sensitive to the swirl-vane angle or the height of the rising channel. When the droplet diameter was within the range of 5～100 μm

the separation efficiency of the 18° swirl-vane separator was higher than that of the 30° swirl-vane separator

and the separation efficiency reached the maximum when the height of the rising channel equaled one time of its own diameter. When the droplet diameter equaled 30 μm

the difference between the separation efficiency of the swirl-vane separators was the largest

and the structural sensitivity was most significant.