Energy Separation in Vortex Tubes with a Divergent Chamber

Abstract

The vortex tube is a simple device for separating a compressed gaseous fluid stream into two flows of high and low temperature. In order to produce a high temperature separation effect, the use of a sufficiently long tube with a smooth inner surface has been standard procedure up until now. However, since such a device requires a large installation space, an attempt was made to shorten the length of the vortex chamber without any fall in the temperature separation effect by using some divergent tubes as the vortex chamber. Experimental data obtained in these vortex chambers were compared with those in the commonly used straight vortex chambers. Observation indicates that a divergent tube with a small angle of divergence is effective in obtaining a higher temperature separation and makes possible a shortening of the chamber length.