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Progress and key influencing factors in vortex separator technologies: A comprehensive review on optimization and similarity principles.

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Title: Progress and key influencing factors in vortex separator technologies: A comprehensive review on optimization and similarity principles.
Authors: Mahaveer; Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza street 11/12, Gdańsk, 80-233, Poland. Electronic address: mahaveer.mahaveer@pg.edu.pl., Zima P; Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza street 11/12, Gdańsk, 80-233, Poland. Electronic address: piotr.zima@pg.edu.pl.
Source: Water research [Water Res] 2026 Oct 15; Vol. 305, pp. 126531. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 19.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Review
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0105072 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-2448 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00431354 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Water Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Oxford, Pergamon Press.
MeSH Terms: Waste Disposal, Fluid*/methods , Waste Disposal, Fluid*/instrumentation , Water Purification*, Models, Theoretical ; Wastewater ; Water Movements ; Particle Size ; Hydrodynamics
Abstract: Vortex separators have become indispensable small units for the treatment of multiphase streams and particle-laden flows in wastewater, stormwater management and environmental protection industries. Despite the vast application, there is not yet a unified understanding of the joint control of separation performance and similarity scaling by structural configuration, operational parameters, and characteristics of particles. This review synthesizes new developments based on inlet-outlet configurations, internal baffling and vortex-forming elements, along with key hydraulic variables including surface loading rate, hydraulic retention time and inflow velocity over wide ranges of particle sizes, densities and concentrations. The analysis uncovers mechanistic relationships of the flow structure, turbulence and particle trajectories. Principal dimensionless parameters particularly Peclet number (Pe), Reynolds number (Re), and Froude number (Fr) are identified for enabling performance transfer from laboratory models to full-scale systems. The research establishes that meaningful optimization involves simultaneous consideration of the structural, hydraulic and particle domains. Future directions in theoretical development and structural innovation are provided to guide vortex separator design for the next generation.
(Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Dimensional parameters; Environmental protection; Hydraulic retention time; Particle trajectories; Vortex separator
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Wastewater)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260721 Date Completed: 20260909 Latest Revision: 20260909
Update Code: 20260909
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.126531
PMID: 42480187
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Progress and key influencing factors in vortex separator technologies: A comprehensive review on optimization and similarity principles.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Mahaveer%22">Mahaveer</searchLink>; Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza street 11/12, Gdańsk, 80-233, Poland. Electronic address: mahaveer.mahaveer@pg.edu.pl.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Zima+P%22">Zima P</searchLink>; Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza street 11/12, Gdańsk, 80-233, Poland. Electronic address: piotr.zima@pg.edu.pl.
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  Data: Vortex separators have become indispensable small units for the treatment of multiphase streams and particle-laden flows in wastewater, stormwater management and environmental protection industries. Despite the vast application, there is not yet a unified understanding of the joint control of separation performance and similarity scaling by structural configuration, operational parameters, and characteristics of particles. This review synthesizes new developments based on inlet-outlet configurations, internal baffling and vortex-forming elements, along with key hydraulic variables including surface loading rate, hydraulic retention time and inflow velocity over wide ranges of particle sizes, densities and concentrations. The analysis uncovers mechanistic relationships of the flow structure, turbulence and particle trajectories. Principal dimensionless parameters particularly Peclet number (Pe), Reynolds number (Re), and Froude number (Fr) are identified for enabling performance transfer from laboratory models to full-scale systems. The research establishes that meaningful optimization involves simultaneous consideration of the structural, hydraulic and particle domains. Future directions in theoretical development and structural innovation are provided to guide vortex separator design for the next generation.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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