Experimental investigation on improving the energy separation efficiency of vortex tube by optimizing the structure of vortex generator

Structural parameters (nozzles number, cold cone angle, and materials) of the vortex generator were investigated experimentally to optimize the energy separation efficiency of the vortex tube. Several important results are obtained to evaluate the performance variation of the vortex tube thermal system from a more comprehensive perspective of the quantity and quality of energy. The results show that the increase of inlet pressure and the number of nozzles will enhance the cooling capacity, heating capacity, and exergy efficiency. The cooling and heating capacity increases first and then decreases with the increase of cold cone angle. Exergy efficiency is the highest when the cold cone angle of the vortex generator is 2 degrees. The diminution of thermal conductivity of vortex generator materials is beneficial to enhance the energy separation performance. Compared with the cold cone angle and vortex generator materials, the inlet pressure and the nozzles number have greater impact on the position of the temperature stagnation point. The resin vortex generator with 6 nozzles and 2 degrees cold cone angle attains the best energy separation performance and the highest exergy efficiency can reach about 0.5.

Automated summary

Experimental investigation on the structural parameters of the vortex generator reveals that increasing inlet pressure and number of nozzles can enhance cooling capacity, heating capacity, and exergy efficiency of the vortex tube thermal system. Exergy efficiency is highest at a cold cone angle of 2 degrees.