A new vortex generator geometry for a counter-flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (original) (raw)

Experimental Studies of a Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube

Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2013

ABSTRACT Vortex tube is a device that separates a compressed flow of gas into two streams simultaneously, one giving kinetic energy to the other, resulting one hotter than the inlet temperature and one lower, without having any moving part. This research focuses on investigating the effects of various physical parameters on the performance of the vortex tube, namely cold nozzle diameter, length of the tube, and air mass flow rate at the hot end of the tube. In general, there are two major design features associated with the vortex tube, namely (a) maximum temperature differentials in vortex tube to produce small amount of air with very low and very high temperatures, and (b) maximum cooling/heating effect by producing large quantity of air with moderate temperatures. By considering the experimental results, an optimized set of parameters that contribute to the most efficient vortex tube design would be proposed depending on the desired design features.

1 Influence of the Vortex Angle on the Efficiency of the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex

2015

The phenomenon of temperature distribution in confined steady rotating gas flows is called Ranque-Hilsch effect. The simple counter-flow vortex tube consists of a long hollow cylinder with tangential nozzle at one end for injecting compressed air. Rotating air escapes the tube through two different outlets: a central orifice diaphragm placed near the inlet where the cold portion of air escapes from and a ring–shaped peripheral outlet at the opposite end of the tube where the hot air leaves the tube. This paper focuses on the performance of the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. The flow inside the vortex tube can be described as rotating air, which moves as a spring-shaped vortex track. The peripheral flow moves toward the hot end and the axial flow moves in the opposite direction toward the cold end. The angle between the circular helix and the vertical axis is an important parameter, since it decides the length of the vortex track and peripheral velocity of the flow, which influence the e...