Effect of the conical-shape on the performance of vortex tube

• Published in: Heat and mass transfer Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 521 - 531
• Main Authors: Guen, M., Natkaniec, C., Kammeyer, J., Seume, J. R., Adjlout, L., Imine, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-04-2013
• Subjects: Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Original; Thermodynamics; Temperature Separation; Energy Separation; Vortex Tube; Fuzzy Expert System; Peripheral Flow
• ISSN: 0947-7411; 1432-1181
• DOI: 10.1007/s00231-012-1098-3

The present study focuses on the effect of conical shape in the cold side of the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube which is shown to have a considerable influence on the system performance. A vortex tube is a simple circular tube with no moving parts which is capable to divide a high pressure flow into two relatively lower pressure flows with temperatures higher and lower than the incoming flow. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model is used to analyse the mechanisms of flow inside a vortex tube. The SST turbulence model is used to predict the turbulent flow behaviour inside the vortex tube. The geometry of a vortex tube with circumferential inlet slots as well as axial cold and hot outlet is considered. Performance curves temperature separation versus cold outlet mass fraction are calculated for a given inlet mass flow rate and varying outlet mass flow rates.