The effect of vortex angle on the efficiency of the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube

Abstract

A Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube is a long hollow cylinder with tangential nozzle placed near one end for injection of compressed air. The flow inside the vortex tube can be described as rotating air, which moves as a helical vortex flow. The peripheral flow moves toward the hot end, where the central part of the tube is blocked by a plug. The axial flow, which is forced back by the central part of the hot end plug, moves in the opposite direction toward the cold end. This paper focuses on the effect of the angle of rotating flow on the performance and efficiency of the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube. To find the effect of vortex angle, different vortex angle generators were used and the best configuration was found. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.