CFD simulation of length to diameter ratio effects on the energy separation in a vortex tube

• Main Authors: Bramo Reza Abdol, Pourmahmoud Nader
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences 2011-01-01
• Series: Thermal Science
• Subjects: Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube; CFD simulation; stagnation point; energy separation; thermal performance
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-9836/2011/0354-98361100008B.pdf

The objective of the present computational fluid dynamics analysis is an attempt to investigate the effect of length to diameter ratio on the fluid flow characteristics and energy separation phenomenon inside the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube. In this numerical study, performance of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes (RHVT), with length to diameter ratios (L/D) of 8, 9.3, 10.5, 20.2, 30.7 and 35 with six straight nozzles was investigated. It includes generating better understanding of the effects of the stagnation point location on the performance of RHVT. It was found that the best performance was obtained when the ratio of vortex tube length to the diameter was 9.3 and also fort this case the stagnation point was found to be the farthest from the inlet. The results show that the closer distance to the hot end is produced the larger magnitude of the temperature difference. Computed results show good agreement with published experimental results.