The Effect of Geometrical Parameters on Thermal Performance of Vortex Tube

S.S.Jadhav, K.D.Devade

The simple counter-flow vortex tube consists of a long hollow cylinder with tangential nozzle at one end for injecting compressed air. Compressed air supplied to the vortex tube is separated into low pressure hot and cold air from its two ends. The exact mechanism of this temperature separation is not known today. Most of the investigators have studied the various operating characteristics of vortex tube based on the cold mass fraction. Vortex tubes of different geometrical configurations give optimum performance at different cold mass fractions.

This paper presents results of Maximum coefficient of performance at given L/D ratio of 32.5 by varying cold mass fraction from 0.1 to 0.9 for 1,2,3,4 number of nozzles carried out on Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT). Different parameters such as cold mass fraction, conical valve angle 30º, 45º, 60º, 90º, number of nozzles are investigated. It shows that coefficient of performance increases with increase in cold mass fraction. Also it is observed that valve angle has significant effect on performance of vortex tube. At the end of study it is found that the maximum coefficient of performance is 0.165 at valve angle 30⁰ for nozzle 4.