CFD simulation on optimum material to fabricate the counter flow of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube

Abstract

The basic objective of the current investigation by using CFD simulation is to select the appropriate material to fabricate Vortex tubes in meteorological conditions, which can improve efficiency and performance. The simulation results of vortex tubes were used in obtaining the performance for various materials such as copper, stainlessteel, brass, PVC, CPVC, acrylic, nylon, and bronze. The ratio of length of the hot tube and inner diameter was chosen as (L/D) 40 with the consistent inner diameter of the hot tube as 15 mm. Compressed air is passed through an inlet pipe between 2 and 12 bars in the step of 2 bars. 2D CFD was developed and analyzed with Ansys Fluent to access the performance of the vortex tube. Finally, after evaluating all simulation values for eight materials for performance depending upon their physical properties varies in the sequence from copper–bronze–brass–stainless steel–CPVC–PVC–acrylic–nylon material.