Investigation on Ranque–Hilsch Vortex Tube Using Different Turbulence Models

Abstract

The objective of this study is to find out an appropriate numerical model that would be computationally less expensive and capable of producing a result with the least deviation from the experimental investigation. To verify the prime objective of this paper, a comparison study is performed between the most commonly used turbulence models such as RNG k−ε model and standard k−ε. In standard k−ε turbulence model, all the calculations of turbulent diffusion are performed on the same scale. Thus, a single turbulence length scale is responsible for the production of eddy viscosity. Whereas in RNG k−ε turbulence models, the turbulent diffusion is calculated for a large span of the scale of motion. Performance study of both the models has been carried out using software tool ANSYS FLUENT™ 15.0. It is found that the results obtained due to standard k−ε method depict closer agreement towards experimental study.