Experimental study and 3D CFD analysis on the optimization of throttle angle for a convergent vortex tube

Abstract

Seven adjustments of convergent-type Vortex Tube (VT) with different throttle angles were applied. The adjustments were made to analyze the influences of such angles on cold and hot temperature drops as well as flow structures inside the VTs. An experimental setup was designed, and tests were performed on different convergent VT configurations at injection pressures ranging from 0.45 to 0.65 MPa. The angles of the throttle valve were arranged between 30° to 90°, and the numbers of injection nozzles ranged between 2 and 6. Laboratory results indicated that the maximum hot and cold temperature drops ranged from 23.24 to 35 K and from 22.87 to 32.88 K, respectively, at four injection nozzles. Results also showed that temperature drop is a function of hot throttle valve angle with the maximum hot and cold temperature drops depending on the angle applied. We used graphs to demonstrate the changes in the cold and hot temperature drops with respect to hot throttle angle values. These values were interpreted and evaluated to determine the optimum angle, which was 60°. The CFD outputs agreed very well with the laboratory results. The proposed CFD results can help future researchers gain good insights into the complicated separation process taking place inside the VTs.

Keywords

convergent vortex tube / conical valve angle / injection pressure / slots number / optimization

References

[1] Agrawal N, Naik SS, Gawale YP. Experimental investigation of vortex tube using natural substances. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2014, 52: 51-55

[2] Ahlborn BK, Gordon JM. The vortex tube as a classic thermodynamic refrigeration cycle. Journal of Applied Physics, 2000, 88(6): 3645-3653

[3] Akhesmeh S, Pourmahmoud N, Sedgi H. Numerical study of the temperature separation in the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2008, 1(3): 181-187

[4] Alekhin V, Bianco V, Khait A, Noskov A. Numerical investigation of a double-circuit Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 2015, 89: 272-282

[5] Aljuwayhel NF, Nellis GF, Klein SA. Parametric and internal study of the vortex tube using a CFD model. Int J Refrigeration, 2005, 28(3): 442-450

[6] Avci M. The effects of nozzle aspect ratio and nozzle number on the performance of the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2013, 50(1): 302-308

[7] Aydin O, Baki M. An experimental study on the design parameters of a counter flow vortex tube. Energy, 2006, 31(14): 2763-2772

[8] Baghdad M, Ouadha A, Imine O, Addad Y. Numerical study of energy separation in a vortex tube with different RANS models. Int. J. Thermal Sciences, 2011, 50(12): 2377-2385

[9] Bej N, Sinhamahapatra KP. Energy analysis of a hot cascade type Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube using turbulence model. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2014, 45: 13-24

[10] Berber A, Dincer K, Yilmaz Y, Ozen DN. Rule-based Mamdani-type fuzzy modeling of heating and cooling performances of counter-flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes with different geometric construction for steel. Energy, 2013, 51: 297-304

[11] Bovand M, Valipour MS, Dincer K, Tamayol A. Numerical analysis of the curvature effects on Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube refrigerators. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2014, 65(1-2): 176-183

[12] Bovand M, Valipour MS, Eiamsa-ard S, Tamayol A. Numerical analysis for curved vortex tube optimization. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2014, 50: 98-107

[13] Chang K, Li Q, Zhou G, Li Q. Experimental investigation of vortex tube refrigerator with a divergent hot tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2011, 34(1): 322-327

[14] Dincer K. Experimental investigation of the effects of threefold type Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube and six cascade type Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube on the performance of counter flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2011, 34(6): 1366-1371

[15] Dincer K, Baskaya S, Uysal BZ. Experimental investigation of the effects of length to diameter ratio and nozzle number on the performance of counter flow RanqueeHilsch vortex tubes. Heat Mass Transfer, 2008, 44(3): 367-373

[16] Dutta T, Sinhamahapatra KP, Bandyopadhyay SS. Numerical investigation of gas species and energy separation in the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube using real gas model. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2011, 26(8): 2118-2128

[17] Farzaneh-Gord M, Sadi M. Improving vortex tube performance based on vortex generator design. Energy, 2014, 72: 492-500

[18] Gutak AD. Experimental investigation and industrial application of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2015, 49: 93-98

[19] Han X, Li N, Wu K, Wang Z, Tang L, Chen G, Xu X. The influence of working gas characteristics on energy separation of vortex tube. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2013, 61(2): 171-177

[20] Hilsch R. 1947. The use of expansion of gases in a centrifugal field as a cooling process. Rev. Sci. Instrum, 18, 108–113. DOI: 10.1063/1.1740893

[21] Im SY, Yu SS. Effects of geometric parameters on the separated air flow temperature of a vortex tube for design optimization. Energy, 2012, 37(1): 154-160

[22] Kandil HA, Abdelghany ST. Computational investigation of different effects on the performance of the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Energy, 2015, 84: 207-218

[23] Khait AV, Noskov AS, Lovtsov AV, Alekhin VN. Semi-empirical turbulence model for numerical simulation of swirled compressible flows observed in Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2014, 48: 132-141

[24] Khazaei H, Teymourtash AR, Malek-Jafarian M. Effects of gas properties and geometrical parameters on performance of a vortex tube. Scientia Iranica, 2012, 19(3): 454-462

[25] Korkmaz ME, Gümüsel L, Markal B. Using artificial neural network for predicting performance of the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2012, 35(6): 1690-1696

[26] Kulyk M, Lastivka I, Tereshchenko Y. Effect of hysteresis in axial compressors of gas-turbine engines. Aviation, 2012, 16(4): 97-102

[27] Li N, Zeng ZY, Wang Z, Han XH, Chen GM. Experimental study of the energy separation in a vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2015, 55: 93-101

[28] Liu X, Liu Z. Investigation of the energy separation effect and flow mechanism inside a vortex tube. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2014, 67(1-2): 494-506

[29] Moffat RJ. Using uncertainty analysis in the planning of an experiment. Trans. ASME, J. Fluids Eng., 1985, 107(2): 173-178

[30] Mohammadi S, Farhadi F. Experimental analysis of a Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube for optimizing nozzle numbers and diameter. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2013, 61(2): 500-506

[31] Mohammadi S, Farhadi F. Experimental and numerical study of the gas–gas separation efficiency in a Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Separation and Purification Technology, 2014, 138(10): 177-185

[32] Nimbalkar SU, Muller MR. An experimental investigation of the optimum geometry for the cold end orifice of a vortex tube. Appl Therm Eng, 2009, 29(2–3): 509-514

[33] Ouadha A, Baghdad M, Addad Y. Effects of variable thermophysical properties on flow and energy separation in a vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2013, 36(8): 2426-2437

[34] Pinar AM, Uluer O, Kirmaci V. Optimization of counter flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube performance using Taguchi method. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2009, 32: 1487-1494

[35] Piralishvili SA, Polyaev VM. Flow and thermodynamic characteristics of energy separation in a double-circuit vortex tube–an experimental investigation. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 1996, 12(4): 399-410

[36] Pourmahmoud N, Hassanzadeh A, Moutaby O. Numerical analysis of the effect of helical nozzles gap on the cooling capacity of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2012, 35(5): 1473-1483

[37] Pourmahmoud N, Hassanzadeh A, Rafiee SE, Rahimi M. Three-dimensional numerical investigation of effect of convergent nozzles on the energy separation in a vortex tube. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2012, 30(2): 133-140

[38] Pourmahmoud N, Rafiee SE, Rahimi M, Hassanzadeh A. Numerical energy separation analysis on the commercial Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube on basis of application of different gases. Scientia Iranica, 2013, 20(5): 1528-1537

[39] Pourmahmoud N, Rahimi M, Rafiee SE, Hassanzadeh A. A numerical simulation of the effect of inlet gas temperature on the energy separation in a vortex tube. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 2014, 9(1): 81-96

[40] Rafiee SE, Ayenehpour S, Sadeghiazad MM. A study on the optimization of the angle of curvature for a Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube, using both experimental and full Reynolds stress turbulence numerical modeling. Heat and Mass Transfer, 2016, 52(2): 337-350

[41] Rafiee SE, Rahimi M. Experimental study and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis on the effect of the convergence ratio, pressure inlet and number of nozzle intake on vortex tube performance-Validation and CFD optimization. Energy, 2013, 63: 195-204

[42] Rafiee SE, Rahimi M. Three-dimensional simulation of fluid flow and energy separation inside a vortex tube. Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 2014, 28(1): 87-99

[43] Rafiee SE, Rahimi M, Pourmahmoud N. Three-dimensional numerical investigation on a commercial vortex tube based on an experimental model-Part I: Optimization of the working tube radius. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2013, 31(1): 49-56

[44] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Experimental and 3D CFD investigation on heat transfer and energy separation inside a counter flow vortex tube using different shapes of hot control valves. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2016, 110: 648-664

[45] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Three-dimensional and experimental investigation on the effect of cone length of throttle valve on thermal performance of a vortex tube using k–turbulence model. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2014, 66(1-2): 65-74

[46] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. 3D cfd exergy analysis of the performance of a counter flow vortex tube. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2014, 32(1-2): 71-77

[47] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Effect of conical valve angle on cold-exit temperature of vortex tube. Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 2014, 28(4): 785-794

[48] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. 3D numerical analysis on the effect of rounding off edge radius on thermal separation inside a vortex tube. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2015, 33(1): 83-90

[49] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Three-dimensional numerical investigation of the separation process in a vortex tube at different operating conditions. Journal of Marine Science and Application, 2016, 15(2): 157-165

[50] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Three-dimensional computational prediction of vortex separation phenomenon inside the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Aviation, 2016, 20(1): 21-31

[51] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Heat and mass transfer between cold and hot vortex cores inside Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube-optimization of hot tube length. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2016, 34(1): 31-38

[52] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Three-dimensional CFD simulation of fluid flow inside a vortex tube on basis of an experimental model-The optimization of vortex chamber radius. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2016, 34(2): 236-244

[53] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM. Experimental and 3D-CFD study on optimization of control valve diameter for a convergent vortex tube. Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2016, 7(1): 1-15

[54] Rafiee SE, Sadeghiazad MM, Mostafavinia N. Experimental and numerical investigation on effect of convergent angle and cold orifice diameter on thermal performance of convergent vortex tube. Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications, 2015, 7(4): 041006

[55] Rahimi M, Rafiee SE, Pourmahmoud N. Numerical investigation of the effect of divergent hot tube on the energy separation in a vortex tube. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 2013, 31(2): 17-26

[56] Ranque GJ. Experiments on expansion in a vortex with simultaneous exhaust of hot air and cold air. Le J. de Physique et le Radium, 1933, 4: 112-114

[57] Saidi MH, Allaf Yazdi MR. Energy model of a vortex tube system with experimental results. Energy, 1999, 24: 625-632

[58] Sadi M, Farzaneh-Gord M. introduction of annular vortex tube and experimental comparison with ranque–hilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2014, 46: 142-151

[59] Saidi MH, Valipour MS. Experimental modeling of vortex tube refrigerator. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2003, 23(15): 1971-1980

[60] Secchiaroli A, Ricci R, Montelpare S, D’Alessandro V. Numerical simulation of turbulent flow in a RanqueeHilsch vortex tube. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2009, 52(23-24): 5496-5511

[61] Shamsoddini R, Hossein Nezhad A. Numerical analysis of the effects of nozzles number on the flow and power of cooling of a vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2010, 33(4): 774-782

[62] Skye HM, Nellis GF, Klein SA. Comparison of CFD analysis to empirical data in a commercial vortex tube. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2006, 29(1): 71-80

[63] Stephan K, Lin S, Durst M, Seher F, Huang D. An investigation of energy separation in a vortex tube. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 1983, 26(3): 341-348

[64] Subudhi S, Sen M. Review of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube experiments using air. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 52: 172-178

[65] Thakare HR, Monde A, Parekh AD. Experimental, computational and optimization studies of temperature separation and flow physics of vortex tube: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 52: 1043-1071

[66] Thakare HR, Parekh AD. Computational analysis of energy separation in counter—flow vortex tube. Energy, 2015, 85: 62-77

[67] Valipour MS, Niazi N. Experimental modeling of a curved Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube refrigerator. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2011, 34(4): 1109-1116