Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373

DOI 10.1007/s00231-007-0241-z

ORIGINAL

Experimental investigation of the effects of length to diameter

ratio and nozzle number on the performance of counter flow
Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes
K. Dincer Æ S. Baskaya Æ B. Z. Uysal

Received: 28 September 2006 / Accepted: 2 February 2007 / Published online: 1 March 2007

Springer-Verlag 2007

Abstract In this experimental study, performance of D internal diameter of vortex tube (m)
counter flow type Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes (RHVT), L length of vortex tube (m)


with a length to diameter ratio of 10, 15 and 18, were mc mass flow rate of the cold stream (kg/s)


investigated with 2, 4, 6 nozzles. The measure of per- mh mass flow rate of the hot stream (kg/s)


formance was chosen as the difference between the mi mass flow rate of the inlet stream (kg/s)
temperatures of hot output stream and cold output N number of nozzles
stream. The performances of RHVTs were experimen- P pressure (Pa)
tally tested by making use of velocity and temperature Pc cold flow pressure of vortex tube (Pa)
measurements of the input and output streams. It was Pi inlet pressure of vortex tube (Pa)
determined that the difference between the tempera- T temperature (K)
tures of these streams, changed between 9 and 56 K. Tc temperature of cold stream (K)
When all the results were assessed, it was concluded that Th temperature of hot stream (K)
the best performance was obtained when the ratio of TiT temperature of inlet stream (K)
vortex tube’s length to the diameter was 15 and the DT difference between the temperatures of output
nozzle number was at least four, and the inlet pressure streams [=(Th – Tc), K]
was as high as possible. Desired performance could be DTc difference between temperature of cold flow and
obtained by controlling the rate of the hot output stream. flow at the inlet [=(Ti – Tc), K]
DTh difference between temperature of hot flow and
List of symbols flow at the inlet [=(Th – Ti), K]
cp specific heat at fixed pressure (J/(kg K)
dc diameter of cold outlet (m) Greek symbols
n fraction for cold flow (=mc/mi)
1–n fraction for hot flow (=mh/mi)
K. Dincer xc angular velocity of cold stream (rad/s)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, xh angular velocity of hot stream (rad/s)
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey c specific heat ratio

S. Baskaya (&)
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture,
Gazi University, Maltepe, Ankara, Turkey
e-mail: baskaya@gazi.edu.tr 1 Introduction

B. Z. Uysal Vortex tubes were discovered in 1932 by Ranque [1, 2].

Department of Chemical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Vortex tubes generally use air as compressible fluids.
Gazi University, Maltepe, Ankara, Turkey Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) defines systems

123
368
which do not contain any moving parts except the
apparatus located at the hot exhaust. Flow is controlled
via this apparatus. Vortex tubes are used for heating as
well as cooling, and their manufacturing costs are rel-
atively low. Vortex tubes produce fluids with two dif-
ferent temperatures. There are a number of factors
which affect the temperature of the hot and cold fluids.
The ratio of the length of the vortex tube to its diam-
eter, the material which the vortex tube is made of,
the number of nozzles, the velocity of the fluids
while entering into the vortex tube are some of these
factors [3].
Working principle of the counter flow Ranque–
Hilsch vortex tube can be defined as follows. Com-
pressible fluid which is tangentially introduced into the
vortex tube from nozzles starts to make a circular
movement in the vortex tube at high speeds because of
the cylindrical structure of the tube depending on its
inlet pressure and speed. Pressure difference occurs
between tube wall and tube center because of the
friction of the fluid circling at high speeds. Speed of
the fluid near the tube wall is lower than the speed at
the tube center because of the effects of wall friction.
As a result, fluid in the center region transfers energy
to the fluid at the tube wall depending on the geometric
structure of the vortex tube. The cooled fluid leaves the
vortex tube from the cold output side by moving to-
wards an opposite direction compared to the main flow
direction after a stagnation point. Heated fluid leaves
the tube in the main flow direction from the other end
(see Figs. 1, 2). RHVTs are used, among others, for
cooling, heating, drying and snow production [3].
Nowadays, RHVTs are produced by different com-
mercial companies with a wide range of applications.
There have been many investigations on various as-
pects of vortex tubes. Some are briefly mentioned be-
low. In experiments carried out by Hartnett and Eckert,
using a 30 in. long, 3/8 in. diameter plexiglass vortex
tube which had eight nozzles, the intake pressure was
applied as 10, 15 and 20 psig. Measurements were made
using five probes (1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 in.) installed on the
body of the vortex tube along the axis. Temperature of
the flow in the center was found to be low, while the
temperature of the flow on the outside was found to be
high [4]. Theoretical gas dynamics analysis was carried
out considering vortex effects of the vortex tube [5].
Size analysis has been made for energy separation,
using general mathematical formulas. Performance of
the vortex tubes with D = 17.6 mm, L = 20 D, nozzle
diameter 4.1 mm, dc = 6.5 mm and inlet pressure of 1.5;
2.0; 2.5; 3.0; 4.0 bars have been studied [6]. It has been
demonstrated that the heat separation which occurs
inside the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes is not limited to
123
Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373
compressible gases and can be applied for non-com-
pressible fluids as well [7]. A conical vortex tube has
been designed and separated into six parts and exam-
ined theoretically [8]. By attaching a vacuum pump
onto a 60 mm long vortex tube with a diameter of
25.4 mm, the vortex tube has been run under low
pressures [9]. The experimental results obtained from
the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube have been used to
conduct exergy analysis [10]. The ratio of the hot
flow temperature to the cold flow temperature in a
Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube; the expression Th/Tc 
1 + {(c–10)X(n + 1)/c} has been evaluated mathemati-
cally using different values of the cold flow fraction.
Here, X = (Pi – Pc)/Pi, c = 1.4 (for air), n is the fraction
for cold flow [11]. It has been reported that there is a
secondary flow in vortex tubes [12]. This secondary flow
has been shown to be related to the cold cross sectional
area with the solutions given in the CFD. It has been
stated that a secondary flow would occur when the cold
cross sectional area is small [13].
2 Experimental study
Vortex tubes are classified into two groups according
to their flow characteristics: counter flow and parallel
flow RHVTs. In this study, a counter flow RHVT was
used. The working principle of a RHVT is shown in
Fig. 1 on a schematic drawing of the experimental rig.
Here, the internal diameter (D) of vortex tubes was
9 mm. Length of vortex tube was (L) 10D, 15D, 18D.
Cross section of the nozzle was 0.002 · 0.002 m2 and
the number of nozzles (N) was 2, 4, and 6 (Fig. 2). The
cross-section of the hot outlet was 3.53 · 10–5 m2 and
the cross-section of the cold outlet was 1.96 · 10–5 m2.
Flow rate was controlled by a valve on the hot output
line. The temperatures of the inlet flow and outlet flows
were measured with 24-gauge copper-constantan
thermocouples.
Compressed air has been provided from a rotary
screw compressor (800 kPa, 3.1 m3/min, 18.5 kW). Air
coming from the compressor was introduced to the
vortex tube via the nozzles after passing through a
humidity eliminating device and a filter. This study was
conducted by increasing the pressure at the entrance of
the vortex tube from 200 to 320 kPa with 20 kPa
increments. Experiments were conducted by gradually
bringing the valve at the hot exhaust to a fully closed
position from its fully open position. Pressure at the
entrance, entrance temperature, temperatures at the
exhausts and velocity were measured during the
experiments. The experiments were repeated for
lengths of 10D, 15D and 18D.
Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373 369

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of

the experimental setup

1. Compressor 2. Pressure tank. 3. Pressure gauge 4. Valve

5. Cooling and dehumidifying unit 6. Filter 7. Pressure regulator
8. Thermocouple 9. Nozzle 10. Counter flow Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube
11. Plug 12. Manometer 13. Cold output 14. Hot output

were estimated according to the standard procedures

reported in the literature; see e.g. Moffat [14, 15],
Abernethy et al. [16], Kline [17], Smith Jr. and
Wehofer [18]. Overall, the uncertainties in DT, Pi and n
was below ±3, ±2 and ±5%, respectively.

3 Results and discussion

The fraction for cold flow n was defined as the ratio of

the mass flow rate of the cold stream to the mass flow
rate of the inlet stream.


mc
Fig. 2 Nozzles used in experiments n¼
ð1Þ
mi

In order to determine the reliability of the experi- n took different values between 0 and 1, when the flow
mental results, an uncertainty analysis was conducted was controlled by the valve on the hot exhaust line.
on all measured quantities as well as the quantities Values obtained from the measurements of pressure,
calculated from the measurement data. Uncertainties velocity and temperature have been used in the

123
370 Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373

calculations. Performances of vortex tubes with dif- the mass flow rate of the cold stream. This suggests that
ferent geometric designs were explored for different with higher cold stream mass flow rates larger tem-
values of n and different inlet pressures. Performance perature differences can be obtained provided that the
was defined as the difference between the temperature tube is not excessively long. One of the most important
of the hot stream and the temperature of the cold factors for the energy separation process in RHVTs is
stream, DT = (Th – Tc). Figures 3, 4 and 5 show results the stagnation point. Very long vortex tubes affect the
of DT for different values of n and Pi in vortex tubes stability of the stagnation point negatively (Fig. 5).
which have four nozzles and a length to diameter ratio
of 10, 15 and 18, respectively.
The energy separation in the vortex tube which has a
geometric design of L/D = 10 and 15 has increased
regularly with n and Pi. The energy separation in the
vortex tube which has an L/D ratio of 18 showed,
however, an irregular behavior. According to Figs. 3
and 4 DT increases continuously with an increase in the
supplied pressure. Simultaneously, a drop in DT is
observed with a drop in n, corresponding to a drop in

Fig. 3 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n at

L/D = 10 and N = 4

Fig. 4 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n at Fig. 5 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n at
L/D = 15 and N = 4 L/D = 18 for N = 2, 4 and 6, respectively

123
Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373
Fig. 6 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n at
L/D = 10, 15 and N = 2
Fig. 7 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n at
L/D = 10, 15 and N = 4
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show results of DT for different
values of n and pressure in vortex tubes which have an
L/D ratio of 10, 15 and 2, 4 and 6 nozzles, respectively.
The same general characteristics as in the previous
figures can be observed. The vortex tube performance
(DT) increases with an increase in the supply pressure,
L/D ratio and number of nozzles.
The performance of the vortex tubes vary accord-
ing to their stagnation point. The location of the
stagnation point is related to the geometric design of
the vortex tube. When performances of vortex tubes
which have L/D = 10 and 15 are compared for equal
number of nozzles at the same entrance pressure, a
larger DT is obtained in the vortex tube which has the
L/D ratio of 15.
371
Fig. 8 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n at
L/D = 10, 15 and N = 6
Fig. 9 The variation of DT with Pi for different values of n;
L/D = 15, N = 2, 4, 6
Figure 9 shows variation of DT with n and inlet pres-
sure with nozzle numbers of 2, 4, 6 for the best length to
diameter ratio of L/D = 15. This figure shows the effect
of raising the working pressure, on the performance of
the RHVT with 2, 4, 6 nozzles. When this figure is closely
examined, one can see that the performance of RHVT
was better with 4 or 6 nozzle than 2 nozzles. Moreover,
the improvement brought by employing 6 nozzles was
not significant over the 4 nozzle performance within the
experimental accuracy limits.
The difference between the temperature of hot
stream and the temperature of the inlet stream is de-
fined as DTh, and the difference between the temper-
ature of cold stream and the inlet stream is defined as
DTc. Figures 10 and 11 show distributions in DTh and
DTc with n for L/D = 10 and 15, respectively. These
123
372
Fig. 10 Variation of the temperature of heating and cooling with
n for L/D = 10 and N = 4
Fig. 11 Variation of the temperature of heating and cooling with
n for L/D = 15 and N = 4
figures provide information about how much the fluid
which is supplied to the vortex tube at environmental
conditions through the compressor can be heated or
how much can be cooled when the working pressure is
increased.
With an increase in the fraction for cold flow, the
cooling performance of the vortex tubes increases only
slightly. However, a much more evident increase can
be seen for the heating performance which increases
for L/D = 15 from approximately 5 to 45 K. When
both figures are compared, it was understood that the
heating performance of the vortex tube with L/D = 15
is better than that of the vortex tube with L/D = 10.
4 Conclusions
This experimental investigation examined perfor-
mances of three RHVTs which have an inner diameter
123
Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373
of 9 mm and L/D ratio of 10, 15, and 18. The supply air
pressure at the inlet was changed from 200 to 320 kPa
in steps of 20 kPa. Flow rates at the cold and hot
outlets were varied by keeping the valve at the cold
exhaust fully open while gradually closing the valve at
the hot exhaust.
The results of the experiments show that it is pos-
sible to get a temperature difference between hot and
cold streams as high as 56 K. A vortex tube with L/D
of 15 and with at least 4 nozzles seems to be giving
the best performance. Employing pressures as high as
possible at the inlet is also recommended. It is
understood that the desired temperatures may be
obtained by controlling the rate of the hot output
stream.
Acknowledgments Financial support of this study by the re-
search fund of the Selcuk University under Grant No. 2002/124 is
gratefully acknowledged.
References
1. Gao CM, Bosschaart KJ, Zeegers JCH (2005) Experimental
study on a simple Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Cryogenics
45:173–183
2. Saidi MH, Valipour MS (2003) Experimental modeling of
vortex tube refrigerator. Appl Therm Eng 23:1971–1980
3. Dincer K (2005) Investigation of the performance of a
counterflow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Ph.D.Thesis. Gazi
University Institute of Science and Technology
4. Hartnett JP, Eckert ER (1957) Experimental study of the
velocity and temperature distribution in a high-velocity
vortex type-flow. Trans ACME 79:751–75
5. Gulyaev AI (1966) Vortex tubes and the vortex effect. Sov
Phys Tech Phys 10(10):1441–1149
6. Stephan K, Lin S, Durst M, Huang F, Seher D (1983) An
investigation of energy seperation in a vortex tube. Int. J
Heat Mass Transf 26(3):341–348
7. Balmer RT (1988) Pressure-driven Ranque–Hilsch temper-
ature seperation in liquids. J Fluids Eng 110:161–164
8. Piralishvil SA, Ployaev VM (1996) Flow and thermodynamic
characteristics of energy seperation in a double-circuit vortex
tube an experimental investigation. Exp Therm Fluid Sci
12:399–410
9. Ahlborn B, Camire J, Keller JU (1996) Low-pressure vortex
tubes. Appl Phys 29:1469–1472
10. Saidi MH, Yazdi MR (1999) Exergy model of a vortex tube
system with experimental result. Exergy 24:625–632
11. Ahlborn BK, Gordon JM (2000) The vortex tube as a classic
thermodynamic refrigeration cycle. J Appl Phys 88(6):3645–
3653
12. Ahlborn B, Groves S (1997) Secondary flow in a vortex tube.
Fluid Dynam Res 21(2):73–86
13. Behera UP, Paul J, Kasthurirengan S, Karunanithi R, Ram
SN, Dinesh K, Jacob S (2005) CFD Anlysisis and experi-
mental investigations towards optimizing the parameters of
Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube. Int J Heat Mass Transf 48:1961–
1973
14. Moffat RJ (1982) Contributions to the theory of single-
sample uncertainty analysis. J Fluids Eng 104:250–260
Heat Mass Transfer (2008) 44:367–373
15. Moffat RJ (1985) Using uncertainty analysis in the planning
of an experiment. J Fluids Eng 107:173–178
16. Abernethy RB, Benedict RP, Dowdell RB (1985) ASME
measurement uncertainty. J Fluids Eng 107:161–164
17. Kline SJ (1985) The purposes of uncertainty analysis.
J Fluids Eng 107:153–160
373
18. Smith Jr. RE, Wehofer S (1985) From measurement uncer-
tainty to measurement communications, credibility, and cost
control in propulsion ground test facilities. J Fluids Eng
107:165–172
123