Experimental Investigation of the Energy Separation in Vortex Tubes

Abstract

Measurements of the state and the velocity distribution of air in a counterflow vortex tube have been undertaken. In order to determine the axial variation of the flow quantities, measurements were carried out in several cross-sections. The experimental results show that the velocity is predominantly tangential. A comparison of the order of magnitude of the radial and axial convection terms in the equations of motion and energy shows that these terms are of equal importance. The energy equation in terms of the total temperature is used as a basis for discussing the influence of turbulence in the flow on the separation of energy in the vortex tube.