| dc.description.abstract | The Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) is a simple, compact, and mechanically
elegant device that separates a compressed gas stream into a hot and a cold fraction
without any moving parts, refrigerants, or external energy input beyond the
compressed air itself. Despite decades of research, the underlying energy
separation mechanism is still debated, and the device's relatively low
thermodynamic efficiency has limited its widespread industrial adoption. In this
study, a counter-flow vortex tube was designed, fabricated from stainless steel and
mild steel components, and experimentally tested at five inlet pressures ranging
from 6 bar to 9.5 bar. The temperatures at the cold outlet, the hot outlet, and the
ambient (normal) condition were recorded with a CIE 305 digital thermometer.
Key performance parameters—cold temperature drop (ΔTc), hot temperature rise
(ΔTh), coefficient of performance (COP), and isentropic efficiency—were
calculated and analyzed. The results show that the maximum temperature
difference of 17.1 °C (between hot and cold streams) was achieved at 9 bar, while
the greatest cold-side temperature drop of 15.3 °C below ambient was obtained at
the same pressure. A comprehensive graphical data analysis is presented, and
recommendations for further efficiency improvements are discussed. | en_US |
