Computational study for the optimization of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube with the variation of number of inlet chamber and distance between the chambers

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to analyse the improvement in the performance of vortex tubes numerically. The air is taken as the working fluid in the compressible, axisymmetric 3-D, turbulent flow, and steady-state vortex tube. The standard k-ɛ turbulent model has been used for flow simulation in ANSYS FLUENT software with different pressure at the inlet and validated with experimental outcomes. It is found that there is an increment of 9.09 % in the cold temperature gradient with three inlet chambers as compared to single chamber. When inlet chamber numbers change from three to four, a decrease in the cold temperature gradient is recorded. When the distance between the inlet chamber increases from 8 mm to 32 mm, there is a decrease in the vortex tube’s cold temperature gradient. Therefore, it indicates that the optimum number of inlet chambers to obtain maximum cold temperature gradient, i.e., minimum cold exit temperature for the given specification of the vortex tube essential to have three inlet chambers, and the optimum distance between the inlet chambers 8 mm, is recommended.