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

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Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

H:

Total enthalpy, J/Kg

F1 :

First SST blending function

F2 :

Second SST blending function

K:

Turbulence kinetic energy

Pk :

Shear production of turbulence

P:

Pressure, Pa

R:

Universal gas constant, J/mol K

T:

Time, s

T:

Temperature, K

ΔTc :

Temperature difference between the inlet and the cold outlet ΔTc = Tin − Tc

ΔTh :

Temperature difference between the inlet and the hot outlet ΔTh = Th − Tin

U:

Velocity vector, m/s

Vn :

Total velocity vector, m/s

ρ :

Density, Kg/m3

τ:

Shear stress, N/m2

μ :

Dynamic viscosity

μ t :

Turbulent viscosity

v t :

Kinematic turbulent viscosity

ω :

Turbulent frequency

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Acknowledgments

The first author expresses his thanks and his gratitude to all the staff of the Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics Institute Hannover in Germany for providing the necessary facilities during his stay at the institute. Also he expresses his sincere thanks to the turbocharger group at TFD for their assistance and their help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aero-Hydrodynamic Naval Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of Oran Algeria, P.O.Box 1505, El M’naouer Oran, Algeria

    M. Guen & L. Adjlout

  2. Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics (TFD), Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Appelstr 9, 30167, Hannover, Germany

    C. Natkaniec, J. Kammeyer & J. R. Seume

  3. Aeronautics and Propulsive Systems Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of Oran Algeria, P.O.Box 1505, El M’naouer Oran, Algeria

    O. Imine

Authors
  1. M. Guen
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  2. C. Natkaniec
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  3. J. Kammeyer
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  4. J. R. Seume
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  5. L. Adjlout
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  6. O. Imine
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Correspondence to M. Guen.

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Guen, M., Natkaniec, C., Kammeyer, J. et al. Effect of the conical-shape on the performance of vortex tube. Heat Mass Transfer 49, 521–531 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-012-1098-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-012-1098-3

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