Two single inlet cyclones and a double inlet cyclone were designed and fabricated to evaluate, and compare, their collection efficiencies. Two single inlet cyclones had different inlet sizes and vortex finder diameters. The double inlet cyclone had two inlet parts that divided the cyclone inlet in two. Clean air was introduced to the inlet near the cyclone wall, and particle-laden air was introduced to the inlet away from the cyclone wall. This double inlet made the clean air swirl in the region near the vortex finder, and the particle-laden air swirl in the region close to cyclone wall. The performance of the double inlet cyclone was evaluated at various clean air flow rates, keeping the particle-laden air flow rate constant. The collection efficiency of the double inlet cyclone was found to be 5-15% greater than that of the single inlet cyclone with the same inlet size and vortex finder diameter. As the flow rate of clean air was increased, the collection efficiency increased. This result indicates the possibility of achieving higher collection efficiencies with a double inlet cyclone. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.