Experimental Investigation and CFD Analysis of the Effects of Various Geometrical Parameters and Inlet Pressure of a Vortex Tube

A Vortex Tube (VT) is a creative and simple device that requires no moving parts and a high level of automation to function. The innovative device works by utilizing the energy from compressed gas to separate incoming air into hot and cold streams. The present study investigates the significance of the VT on energy separation using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) representation. The researchers employed a full 3D model of the modified VT for CFD analysis and the numerical results were validated with experiments, making the analysis a comprehensive one. The study also investigated the effect of compatible features and operational parameters on the performance of the VT in energy separation., which was found to outperform the standard k- ε turbulence model. The investigation was conducted using a single nozzle, with the maximum inlet pressure required for cold and hot air temperature separation obtained at 6 bar. Interestingly, the L/D ratio was found to be 10, the dc/D ratio was 0.33, the Tc was 277.62 K, and Th was 309.63 K. This research presents an in-depth analysis of the influence of various operational and design parameters on the energy separation performance of the VT. The results obtained can ideally be implemented in the design of VTs, making the device a more efficient means of energy separation.