vortex tubes

[magicme]

hi there

a student of mine did a summer project on vortex tubes, and that was my first (and only) exposure to the topic. i did do some reading and scanned the internet (not extensively) because these are really interesting devices.

does anyone know what industries actually use vortex tubes in there processes (manufacturing or design or whatever) they look like interesting but really impractical curiosities....? he (the student) built one to cool a toolbit during a machining process.....neat idea on his part....but what else is it practical for?

thanks

daveleo

 

[Rich2001]

They are also used to cool electrical enclosures. I have heard of them being used to cool some one wearing a HazMat suit, though I have never seen it. Neat devices but, poor efficiency.

 

[MintJulep]

This manufacturer's site offers several suggested applications:

http://www.exair.com/misc/product_applications.htm

I have also heard of the "cool suit" application.

 

[zdas04]

There is a lengthy PhD thesis on Vortex Tubes at

http://www.southstreet.freeserve.co.uk/rhvtmatl/index.htm

done at Cambridge in the UK. It is very well written and has very solid references.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

 

[Montemayor]

After over 40 years of waiting, I've not heard of any practical or hopeful application for the Ranque-Hilsch tube. I remember my first introduction to it in M.E. Thermo lab. At that time, I was struck by the curiosity and the seemingly paradoxical instrument that was so simple, but yet so complex.

70 years have past since Ranque revealed it - and not a drop of useful, competitive work from it. Only the usual side-show curiosities that come up from time-to-time. The apparatus is so inefficient that I personally prefer to forget about it, now that the fad has had more than sufficient time to subside. As most old-time engineers would say in between yawns: "So what else is new....?"

Art Montemayor
Spring, TX

 

[unclesyd]

We did use them as stated above to cool different type of suits, hydroblasters and such.
Our main use was in the manufacture of HSS miniature broaches, drills and plugs (<0.0090") used in an in-house manufacturing process. For some unknown reason, it just worked, we could produce far more parts with less wheel dressing when using cold air rather than coolant.

Being a 24/7/365 operation in part of our plant they were a great help in keeping equipment on line until we could plan an outage where we had problems with bearings. If fact every lead shift mechanic had one for use if needed, still do.

Another use, still in service, is a very exotic setup where a Vortec cooling tube is cooling a heat pipe in the base of large pillow block bearing. The bearing is on the shaft of very hot (550°F, designed for 250°F ) recirculating blower. This was an emergency fix but worked so well it was left in and is still working.

 

[magicme]

thanks for all the input....this is an fascinating device....the website links - especially the PhD thesis site - were interesting.

if compressed air is already available and you need to heat or cool something (and can stand the noise)...a vortex tube would be something to look at....but if the air isn't there, i don't know....

daveleo

 

[saxon]

daveleo, Run an energy and cost balance per ton of refrigeration produced. You'll find that a std. refrig. unit is much more cost effective.

Hope this helps.
saxon

 

[zdas04]

but not nearly as much fun. Sometimes you have to apply creative people to a sub-marginal product to find a niche where the product is better than marginal.

David

 

[hacksaw]

The tubes are commonly available. They come in different sizes and some are even adjustable, yawn...they are used where you need cooling and have as good air supply.

Believe first use was with hard-rock mining suits.

 

[25362]

Through a quick Google search I came to various sites, one of them offering interesting links with regard to uses,

http://www.arizonavortex.com/vortextubes.htm

 

[unclesyd]

Here is an original site. The "Vortex" sites looks like the original "Vortec" site. I need to add that we used a lot of the different air movers/amplifiers in lieu of the Coppus Type Blowers for ventilation.

http://www.itvortec.com

 

[rmw]

I have used them on high temperature CCTV camera housings, on such applications as boiler furnace viewing, kiln viewing, etc. The little things work just fine in that application.

rmw

 

[25362]

The O&GJ of September 8, 1997 brings an article on vortex tubes in the Technology section titled: Vortex tube can increase liquid hydrocarbon recovery at plant inlet by Hajdik et al.