Abstract
The aim of this paper is to numerically analyze the energy separation phenomenon in turbulent compressible swirling flow in a cylindrical tube. In that sense, the energy separation in a vortex tube with orifice at cold end closed completely is examined numerically using OpenFOAM software. Obtained results are validated with the experimental ones. For numerical calculations, both two-equation (standard k-e) and full Reynolds stress turbulence models (LRR) are used. The computational domain is considered to be two-dimensional, and the working fluid - air is treated as calorically perfect gas. Mesh independence test is carried out for four different mesh sizes. Distributions of swirling flow intensity, average swirl and angular velocity clearly show the influence of the swirl presence in the flow. The values of these quantities point to the physics of this extremely complex flow-thermodynamic phenomenon, such is the energy separation. Based on values and distributions of these flow quantities a comparison between incompressible and compressible turbulent swirling flow is performed.
Highlights
Energy separation is a spontaneous process of total energy redistribution in the fluid flow
The calcu– lations are conducted on four different mesh sizes with 24000 (M0), 37050 (M1), 52500 (M2) and 78400 (M3) cells
Numerical analysis of energy separation phenomenon in turbulent compressible swirling flow in a cylindrical tube is performed in this research
Summary
Energy separation is a spontaneous process of total energy redistribution in the fluid flow. A device that has become famous because of this phenomenon is called vortex tube. It is a simple device with no moving parts that separates compressed gas stream into cold and hot streams exiting on the opposite sides of the vortex tube. The compressed gas enters the tube in the way that the swirling flow is formed in this device. Since there are no moving parts, the energy separation effect can only be attributed to the fluid dynamics effects. The explanation of this phenomenon is still ambiguous
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