In this article, by using Computational Fluid Dynamic techniques, the optimized dimensions for injection nozzles of vortex tube machine are obtained. For this purpose, numerical simulation for different dimensions of length, width and height of nozzles is performed. However, other dimensions of modeled vortex tube are considered constant. The standard k-ε turbulence model was introduced to the governing equations for analyzing highly turbulence and compressible flows. The main goal of this study is to achieve the minimum amount of cold exit temperature by changing the dimensions of injection nozzles. In addition, an investigation is done upon pressure effect in the vortex tube chamber and its relation with the cold exit temperature and the best dimensions of nozzles are selected. Finally, some results of this article are validated by available experimental data. The comparisons show reasonable agreement.
The design of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) seems to be interesting for refrigeration and air conditioning purposes in industry. Improving thermal efficiency of the vortex tubes could increase the operability of these innovative facilities for a wider heat and cooling demand to this end; it is of an interest to understand the physical phenomena of thermal and flow patterns inside a vortex tube. In this work, the flow phenomena and the thermal energy transfer in RHVT are studied for three RHVT: straight, divergent, and convergent vortex tubes. A three-dimensional numerical analysis of swirling or vortex flow is performed, verified, and validated against previous experimental and numerical data reported in literature. The flow field and the temperature separation inside an RHVT for different configuration of straight, five angles of divergent hot tube (1 deg, 2 deg, 3 deg, 4 deg, and 6 deg) and five angle of convergent hot tube (0.5 deg, 0.8 deg, 1 deg, 1.5 deg, and 2 deg) are investigated. The thermal performance for all investigated RHVTs configuration is determined and quantitatively assessed via visualizing the stream lines for all three scenarios.
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