A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of a vortex tube
has been carried out to realize the effects of operating pressure. The highly
rotating flow field structure and its characteristic are simulated and
analyzed with respect to various operating inlet pressure ranges. Numerical
results of compressible and turbulent flows are derived by using of the
standard k-? turbulence model, where throughout the vortex tube was taken as
a computational domain. The main object of the present research is to focus
on the importance of identifying the suitable inlet gas pressure corresponds
to used vortex tube geometry. Achieving a highly swirling flow and
consequently maximum cold temperature difference were the key parameters of
judgment. The results revealed that these acceptable conditions of machine
performance can be provided when the inlet operating pressure is appropriate
both to mechanical structure of machine and physical properties of working
fluid. The stagnation point location in the axial distance of vortex tube and
Mach number contours in the vortex chamber as additional information are
extracted from flow filed; such that interpretation of shock wave formation
regions may be accounted as significant features of investigation. Finally,
some results of the CFD models are validated by the available experimental
data and shown reasonable agreement, and other ones are compared
qualitatively.