Numerical and sensitivity analyses of various design parameters to maximize performance of a Vortex Tube

Abstract

In this study, a series of numerical simulations are performed to investigate the performance of a vortex tube (VT) with various design parameters. The study focuses on six design parameters, mainly, inlet pressure, VT length, VT diameter, number of inlet nozzles, nozzle diameters, and hot outlet pressure. The results indicate that VT performance has a non-monotonic relation with all design parameters and, hence optimum performance can be achieved by conducting response surface methodology (RSM) study. The optimum VT performance is achieved with specific design parameters; for instance, the maximum cooling is achieved with VT length of 194 mm, VT diameter of 14.6 mm, 4 inlet nozzles, nozzle diameter of 1.8 mm, and hot outlet pressure of 60,303 Pa. The results show that energy separation increases at higher inlet pressures until inlet nozzles reach choking condition. Beyond that, the improvement in energy separation is small and VT performance starts deteriorating once shock waves start formulating outside the nozzle.