Design Analysis And Fabrication Of Vortex Tube For Laser Cutting And Cooling

Abstract

Vortex tube is a non-conventional type of refrigerating systems. It is a simple device to get desired lower temperatures. Vortex tube is a simple energy separating device which causes heat separation between two air streams and is compact and simple to produce and to operate. Even after extensive research the efficiency of such a system, in refrigeration is very low. The phenomenon of  temperature distribution in a confined steady rotating gas flows is called Ranque-Hilsch effect. A simple counter-flow vortex tube consists of a long hollow cylinder a tangential nozzle at one end for injecting compressed air. The flow of air in the vortex tube is whirled shaped vortex track. The vortex tube is attached to the hot surface. Compressed air is passed through it tangentially and in such a process, heat is added to the air. At the same time, once the air flow comes in contact with the cone, fitted at the front end of the vortex tube, it flows back towards the backend of the setup, due to pressure difference. Hence, two different air streams are setup in the system. The temperature difference between the two streams, causes heat exchange to take place between the air streams.