Parametric study of a vortex tube

• Grant number: 06/06533-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2007
• End date: August 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: José Roberto Simões Moreira
• Grantee: José Roberto Simões Moreira
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A vortex or Ranque-Hilsh tube is a quite simple moving parts free device that can produce cold air from a compressed air source when it operates as a cooling system. At the same time, the tube can also produce hot air to work as a heat pump. In actual operation the incoming compressed air stream is split into two streams one of which is cold and the other is a hot one and they exit the device at the opposite tube ends. The theory that fully explains the correct physical phenomenon that takes place inside the tube is yet to be developed. As a consequence, test laboratories need to be carried out in order to learn the main controlling parameters. The tests includes the following parameters variations: feeding air pressure, tube lengths and cold and hot air cross section. (AU)