SRI BALAJI COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY, JAIPUR
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Batch-2014-2018
Project Title
“STUDY ON VORTEX TUBE
REFRIGERATION"

Submitted To:- Submitted By:-

DR. ASHOK KR. CHOUDHARY Neeraj Kumar(14ESBME025)

(HOD, ME DEPARTMENT) Manish Kumar(14ESBME019)

SBCET, JAIPUR Prince Kumar(14ESBME027)

Guided By:-
DR. ASHOK KR. CHOUDHARY
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We express our gratitude to staffs of Department of Mechanical Engineering Of Sri Balaji

Engineering College for providing necessary facilities and encouragement for the completion
of this work. We also express our sincere thanks to the staff at production shop, and thermal
laboratory for their continuous help in our experimentation and preparation of this work. I
would like to acknowledge the efforts of all the people who have contributed towards the
work in this thesis. I am deeply indebted to my principle supervisor, Dr. Ashok Kumar
Choudhary, without whom this thesis would have never been completed. Apart from
appreciating his erudite suggestions on the research matters and his will to shearing the
knowledge, I am extremely thankful to him for tolerating my unscheduled intrusions and
great help in personal life. I am also thankful to many other academics in our college who
helped me in my research, in particular the workshop staff.
 ABSTRACT

The phenomenon of temperature distribution in confined steady rotating gas flows is called
Ranque-Hilsch effect. The simple counter-flow vortex tube consists of a long hollow cylinder
with tangential nozzle at one end for injecting compressed air. The flow inside the vortex
tube can be described as rotating air, which moves in a spring-shaped vortex track. The
peripheral flow moves toward the hot end where a hot end plug is placed and the axial flow,
which is forced back by the plug, moves in the opposite direction towards the cold end.
Refrigeration plays an important role in developing countries, primarily for the preservation
of food, medicine and for air conditioning. Conventional refrigeration systems are using
Freon as refrigerant. As they are the main cause for depletion of ozone layer, extensive
research work is going on alternate refrigeration systems. Vortex tube is a non conventional
cooling device, having no moving parts which will produce cold air and hot air from the
source of compressed air without affecting the environment. When a high pressure air is
tangentially injected into vortex chamber a strong vortex flow will be created which will be
split into two air streams, one hot stream and the other is cold stream at its ends.
 INTRODUCTION

The actual vortex tube is a gadget which often divides a superior strain circulation stepping
into tangentially straight into a couple lower strain moves, generally there by means of
producing a heat transform. The actual vortex tubing doesn't have transferring elements and
also normally consists of a sale paper tubing using nozzles and a throttle control device.
Underhand fuel makes its way into the actual vortex tubing tangentially over the nozzles
which often boosts the angular pace and so yields the swirl influence. we'll find a couple
generating a profit from the vortex tubing. The actual scorching quit is found in the actual
external radius close to the much finish on the nozzle and the cool quit is usually in the
center on the tubing close to the nozzle. The actual fuel divides straight into a couple tiers.
The actual fuel closer to the actual axis has a lower heat and also is developed over the cool
quit and the fuel close to the periphery on the tubing has a hot temperature which often is
developed over the scorching quit.

The actual distinction from the heat generated due to the swirl circulation was witnessed by
means of Ranque over the examine regarding particles divorce cyclone and also we alluded
this seeing that “temperature separation”. Vortex tubing is amongst the non-conventional sort
refrigerating programs for that manufacturing regarding refrigeration. The actual schematic
diagram regarding vortex tubing is usually found from the Fig. It contains nozzle, diaphragm,
control device, hot-air aspect, cold-air aspect. The actual nozzles are generally regarding
converging as well as diverging as well as converging-diverging sort much like the planning.
A powerful nozzle was created to get higher pace, greater large circulation and also minimal
inlet deficits. Slot provided is a portion of nozzle and also services the actual tangential
access regarding substantial pace air-stream straight into scorching aspect.

Usually the chambers aren't regarding sale paper variety but they are generally steadily
became spin out of control variety. Warm aspect is usually cylindrical in combination
segment which is regarding distinct program plans much like style. Device obstructs the
actual circulation regarding air flow by way of scorching aspect and it also handles the
amount of heat by way of vortex tubing Diaphragm is a cylindrical bit of little depth and also
developing a little opening regarding specific diameter in the hub. Air flow mode travelling
over the center on the scorching aspect is usually imparted over the diaphragm opening.
Frosty aspect is a cylindrical percentage through which cool air flow is usually handed down.
COMPONENTS OF VORTEX TUBE

 Nozzle: The nozzle are of converging type, diverging type or converging-diverging

type as per the the design. An efficient nozzle is designed to have higher velocity,
greater mass flow and minimum inlet losses.

Figure: Disassembled components of vortex tube

 Diaphragm: It is a cylindrical piece of small thickness and having a small hole of

specific diameter at the centre. Air stream travelling through the core of the hot side is
emitted through the diaphragm hole.
 Valve: It obstructs the flow of air through hot side and it controls the quantity of hot
air through the vortex tube.
 Hot side: It is cylindrical in cross section and has a suitable length based on the
design. The effective length of hot side is taken as 3D for efficient operation of he
vortex tube.
 Cold side: It is a cylindrical portion through which cold air is been passed.
 Chamber: It is a portion of the nozzle in the same plane of the nozzle and facilitates
the tangential entry of high velocity air stream into hot side.
AIR COMPRESSOR

An air compressor is a device that converts power (using an electric motor, diesel or gasoline
engine, etc.) into potential energy stored in pressurized air (i.e., compressor air). By one of
several methods, an air compressor forces more and more air into a storage tank, increasing
the pressure. When tank pressure reaches its upper limit the air compressor shuts off.

Figure: Air Compressor

The compressed air, then, is held in the tank until called into use. The energy contained in the
compressed air can be used for a variety of applications, utilizing the kinetic energy of the air
as it is released and the tank depressurizes. When tank pressure reaches its lower limit, the air
compressor turns on again and re-pressurizes the tank.
An air compressor must be differentiated from an air pump which merely pumps air from one
context (often the surrounding environment) into another (such as an inflatable mattress, an
aquarium, etc.). Air pumps do not contain an air tank for storing pressurized air and are
generally much slower, quieter, and less expensive to own and operate than an air
compressor.

DESIGN PROCEDURE

In general, there are two design features associated with a vortex tube, namely
(a) Maximum temperature drop vortex tube design for producing small quantity of air with
very low temperatures
(b) Maximum cooling effect vortex tube design for producing large quantity of air with
moderate temperatures Of these two design considerations 'maximum temperature drop
design' has been used in the present study.
 Figure: Vortex Tube

The parameters investigated in the study to understand their inter-relationships and their
effect on the performance of the vortex tube are.
 Nozzle diameter
 Cold orifice diameter
 Mass flow rates of cold and hot air, area at the hot end

BASIC DESIGN FOR CONSTRUCTION

In the present investigation, a nozzle area to tube area ratio of 0.11 for maximum temperature
drop has been considered, as suggested by Soni and Thomson. Further, they suggested that
the ratio of cold orifice area to tube area should be 0.080 for achieving maximum
temperature drop.
The same researchers also mentioned that the length of the vortex tube should be 45-55 times
the tube diameter.
Keeping these suggestions in view, a vortex tube of size 18 inner diameter of CPVC was
selected. The vortex tube was a 810 mm long pipe. Four straight nozzles were made and each
had 2 mm diameter and was 2.5 mm long, long. Similarly, two cold orifices were used
having hole diameters of 4.5 mm and 5.8 mm, respectively.
A conical valve made of wood was provided on the right hand side of the tube to regulate the
flow with diameters varying from 7 to 20 mm.
Materials were selected based on easy availability, ease of working, and insulating capability
which is necessary for achieving the adiabatic conditions assumed. CPVC pipings are widely
used in industries to carry hot fluid. The pipes used were rated for a maximum temperature of
80 o C

.
Tube Inner Diameter 18 mm (d)

Cold Plate Orifice Diameter 9 mm (0.5 d)

Inlet Nozzle Diameter 2 mm (0.1 d)

No Of Inlet Nozzle 4 (Depending On Flow Rate Of Air)

Length: Hot End 810 mm 45 d -55 d

Length: Cold End 20-30 mm (Experimental Value)

Pressure Range 1 bar-6 bar (Experimental Value)

Table: Design Parameters used for vortex tube

TEST PROCEDURE
The various parameters, which affect the performance of the vortex tube, were divided into
following input and output variables.

Input variables: Area of cold orifice, Effective Area of Hot End, Inlet Pressure, Inlet Mass
Flow Rate
Output variables: Temperature of cold air, cold fraction and Temperature of hot air. The
compressor was initially run for about 30 min to get a stable compressor air tank pressure.
Firstly the cold end orifice was set to a value. For that value a pressure is set and the hot end
valve is varied to get the output variables. The Pressure was varied to obtain various output
variables. The procedure was repeated for various cold end orifice diameters. The values of
density of air at both ends were calculated assuming the flow to be adiabatic.
The following assumptions were made for the ease calculation.
 The entire system is insulated and the processes are adiabatic.

 The outlet pressures are equal to atmospheric pressures.

 The cold end diaphragm and hot end conical valve does not absorb any heat

 There is no change in performance due to the projecting part of conical valve.

 There is no effect of back pressure in the outlets.

PRESSURE TEMPERATURE VARIATION TABLE

S. No Inlet Pressure Inlet Air Hot Air Side Cold Side Air
In Bar Temperature Temperature Temperature
in 'C in 'C in 'C

1 1 30 35 29

2 2.5 30 35.8 27

3 3 30 36 24

4 5 30 36.7 23

PRINCIPLE & WORKING

Compressed air is supplied to the vortex tube and passes through nozzles that are tangent to
an internal counter bore. These nozzles set the air in a vortex motion. This spinning stream of
air turns 90 degrees and passes down the hot tube in the form of a spinning shell

Figure: Schematic diagram of vortex Tube

A valve at one end the tube allows some of the warmed air to escape.What does not escape
heads back down the tube as a second vortex inside the low pressure area of the larger vortex.
Angular momentum has been lost from the inner vortex. The energy that is lost shows up as
heat in the outer vortex. The outer vortex becomes warm and the inner vortex is cooled.

WORKING OF VORTEX TUBE

Compressed air is passed through the nozzle as shown in Fig. Here, air expands and acquires
high velocity due to particular shape of the nozzle. A vortex flow is created in the chamber
and air travels in spiral like motion along the periphery of the hot side. This flow is restricted
by the valve.

Figure: Working Of Vortex Tube

When the pressure of the air near valve is made more than outside by partly closing the valve
a reversed axial flow through the core of the hot side starts from high-pressure region to low-
pressure region. During this process, heat transfer takes place between reversed stream and
forward stream. Therefore, air stream through the core gets cooled below the inlet
temperature of the air in the vortex tube, while air stream in forward direction gets heated up.
The cold stream is escaped through the diaphragm hole into the cold side, while hot stream is
passed through the opening of the valve. By controlling the opening of the valve, the quantity
of the cold air and its temperature can be varied.
ADVANTAGES
 It uses air as refrigerant, so there is no leakage problem.
 Vortex tube is simple in design and it avoids control systems.
 There are no moving parts in vortex tube.
 It is light in weight and requires less space.
 Initial cost is low and its working expenses are also less, where compressed air is
readily available.
 Maintenance is simple and no skilled labours are required.

DISADVANTAGES

Its low COP, limited capacity and only small portion of the compressed air appearing as the
cold air limits its wide use in practice.

APPLICATIONS

 Vortex tubes are extremely small and as it produce hot as well as cold air. It may be
of use in industries where both are simultaneously required.
 Temperature as low as –50 C can be obtained without any difficulty, so it is very
much useful in industries for spot cooling of electronic components.
 It is commonly used for body cooling of the workers in mines.

.
CONCLUSIONS

By installing the Vortex Tube Refrigeration System in passenger car to get the required
Cooling conditions, Experimental investigation of optimized vortex tube is done and the
performance of modified vortex tube is analysed. The results of the experiments show that
the performance of PVC vortex has higher temperature difference than copper tube that is hot
temperature and cold temperature difference. Also the number of nozzle number is analysed
here, the investigations showed that four nozzles gives maximum temperature difference.
Experiment shows that by increasing the number of nozzles the temperature difference
between hot end and cold end also increases. Also by increasing the inlet pressure the cold
outlet temperature decreases simultaneously that is temperature difference increases. The
cold mass fraction of about 0.7 gives minimum temperature in all conditions.
 In my variable investigation shows that four nozzles with PVC as vortex tube material have
the best cooling effect. This type of vortex tube refrigeration can be attached in automobiles
for cooling the cabin in future works.
The following conclusions are observed.

 The present project work has successfully developed air cooling for a passenger car
based on Vortex Tube Refrigeration System, which overcomes the major problems
such as global warming and ozone depletion.
 In Vortex Tube Refrigeration System air is being used in place of refrigerant is of
having zero ozone depletion, zero global warming potential, non pollutant, non toxic,
inflammable, cheaper and eco friendly to the environment.
 Cooling conditions met by the Vortex Refrigeration System is healthier than the
comfort conditions met by the VCRS system, because air is free from chemicals but
refrigerant is a gas which is a chemical mixture.
 Energy consumption per ton of refrigeration in Vortex Refrigeration System is 4 h.p.
whereas energy consumption per ton of refrigeration to run Vapor Compression
Refrigeration System in vehicle is 6h.p. So Vortex Refrigeration System is
economical.
 Vortex Tube Refrigeration System is of having no moving parts, so its durability is
more. Installing and maintaining is easier than the current air conditioning system.
 Performance of the Cooling system is good at high speeds of the vehicle as high
pressures are created in the Air compressor. Cooling system works well in the
vehicles with less cabin space as the C.O.P of the vortex tube is less.
 COP of vortex tube is very low of order 0.1. In spite of its less COP it is still used in
industries where dry compressed air is available and is used for spot cooling of
electronic components. It is commonly used for cooling of bodies of persons working
in mines.
 With efficient design it is possible to attain temperatures as low as -50 oC without
any difficulty.
 The design of nozzle affects the conversion of pressure to velocity. It doesn't have
much contribution in the energy separation process. The area of nozzle is a constant
for given tube size and number of nozzles depends on mass flow rate possible.

 Cold end temperature as well as adiabatic efficiency is more influenced by the mass
flow rate and the size of the cold orifice rather than the size of the hot plug.

 Higher temperature drops are obtained in vortex tube at 90% hot plug diameter and is
due to higher hot temperatures rather that low cold temperatures.
  The pressure and mass flow rate is to be kept at a range for proper operation of tube.
The higher range is defined by the strength of tube while lower limit is defined by the
tube diameter and hot plug diameter.

 It is observed that maximum cooling effect is obtained at 16.5 mm of hot plug

diameter

 Tube inner diameter. CFD analysis shows an 86% diameter gives maximum cooling
effect.

 The material of tube has significant importance in design of vortex tube. The internal
roughness increases friction, causing heating up of pipe and loss of tangential velocity
of flow.

 A 1- 5 O inclination of the inlet orifice towards hot end helped in reducing pressure
buildup near the orifices, restricting further flow. A higher inclination increased the
axial velocity, reducing the efficiency of operation.

SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK

Vortex Tube Refrigeration System is giving cooling conditions but not humidity conditions
inside the vehicle cabin. For getting comfort conditions in the vehicle both cooling as well as
humidity conditions are to be maintained.

1. Vortex tubes are extremely small and as it produces hot as well as cold air. It may be of
use in industries where both are simultaneously required.
2. Vortex tubes are used for cooling of cutting tools (lathe and mills) during machining.
3. It is commonly used for body cooling of the workers in mines.