The nature of the vortex end (or the "tail end" or "tip") in reverse-flow centrifugal gas cleaning equipment, cyclones and swirl tubes, has been studied by visualization using a stroboscope and high-time-resolution pressure measurements. The core of the vortex is shown to bend to the wall of the separator, and rotate around the wall, forming the ring-shaped pattern normally observed at the vortex end. The end of the vortex was found to occur higher in the swirl tube ("less stable vortex") when the solid loading is increased, and when the volumetric flow rate to the tube is decreased. The frequency with which the vortex core rotates varies with the gas flow rate and was found to be about the same as the frequency with which the gas rotates higher in the separator. The time-averaged wall pressure suddenly decreases in the separator body at the point where the vortex end attaches to the wall. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.