Numerical investigation of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube

In this article, a Ranque–Hilsch Vortex Tube has been optimized utilizing divergence and convergence axial angles forhot tube. Effect of divergence and convergence angles on the flow behavior has been investigated by computational fluiddynamics (CFD) techniques. By using a standard k-ԑ turbulence model based on finite volume method, all thecomputations have been carried out. The dimensions of the studied vortex tubes have been kept the same for all modelsand the performance of machine was studied under five different divergence angles (β), namely 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 degree,two different convergence angles named 1 and 2 degree adjusted to the hot tube. Achieving a minimum cold exittemperature is the main goal of this numerical research. The results show that utilizing the divergent kind of hot tubeimproves the cooling capacity of device for most values of inlet mass flow rates. Finally, some results of the CFD modelshave been validated by the available experimental and numerical data and which show reasonable agreement, and otherones are compared qualitatively.

Keywords:

Ranque – Hilsch vortex tube , Divergent vortex tube , Convergent vortex tube , Energy optimization , CFD