A SEMINAR REPORT

On

VORTEX FORMATION AND COLLISION

Submitted by

Mr. Faizan Mehraj Baba 18206145046

In conformity with the requirements for the degree

of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,
ZAKURA UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR,

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 SRINAGAR
January, 2022

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this Seminar report “Vortex formation and Collision” is the bonafide
work of the student namely Faizan Mehraj bearing enrollment number 18206145046

Certified further, that to the best of my knowledge the work reported herein does not form
part of any other report or dissertation on the basis of which a degree or award was
conferred on an earlier occasion on this or any other candidate.

Signature of Supervisor/Guide

Seal & Signature

Signature of SPI-Incharge Coordinator,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to thank (Mr . Danish Yaqoob ) for his kind support and valuable guidance. It is
his help and support, due to which we became able to complete the design and technical
report. Without his/her/their support this report would not have been possible.

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 Name of the Student Enrollment Signature

Mr . Faizan Mehraj 18206145046

Vortex Formation

Abstract
A vortex (plural vortices) is a rapidly spinning, circular or spiral flow of fluid around a central
axis. The swirling motion tends to suck everything within the fluid toward its center. The speed
and rate of rotation of the fluid are greatest at the center, and decrease progressively with distance
from the center. A vortex can be observed in the spiraling motion of air or liquid around a center
of rotation. The circular current of water of conflicting tides form vortex shapes. Turbulent flow
makes many vortices. A good example of a vortex is the atmospheric phenomenon of a whirlwind
or a tornado. The whirling air mass mostly takes the form of a helix, column, or spiral. Vortices
arise in nature and technology in a large range of sizes .Studying natural phenomena such as
hurricanes, tornadoes, and whirlpools (free vortices) requires a full understanding of vortex
behavior. It is also critical for engineers and designers to be able to characterize forced vortices
generated in machinery, such as centrifugal pumps or turbines

Vortices often have adverse effects, as have been seen during hurricanes, tornadoes, or scour holes
created downstream of a dam outlet; however, understanding vortex behavior has enabled
engineers to design turbomachinery and hydraulic structures that take advantage of these
phenomena. For example, hydrodynamic separators have been developed, based on vortex
behavior (swirling flow), to separate solid materials from liquids. This type of separator is used in
water treatment plants.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3

ABSTRACT 4

List of Figures 8
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Properties of vortex 3
1.2 Types of vortices
1.2.1 Free Vortex
1.2.2 Forced Vortex
2. Vortex Tube refrigeration
2.1 Vortex tube
2.2 Classification of vortex tube
2.2.1 Counter flow vortex tube
2.2.2 Uni flow vortex tube
2.3 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES
2.4Working
2.5 Principle of working
Ad

1. Introduction

A vortex is commonly associated with the rotating motion of fluid around a common
centerline. It is defined by the vorticity in the fluid, which measures the rate of local
fluid rotation. Typically, the fluid circulates around the vortex, the speed increases as
the vortex is approached and the pressure decreases. Vortices arise in nature and
technology in a large range of sizes. Studying natural phenomena such as hurricanes,

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tornadoes, and whirlpools (free vortices) requires a full understanding of vortex
behavior. It is also critical for engineers and designers to be able to characterize forced
vortices generated in machinery, such as centrifugal pumps or turbines. A mesovortex
is the term used for a vortex on the scale of a few miles, that is, smaller than a
hurricane but larger than a tornado. On a much smaller scale, a vortex is usually
formed as water goes down a drain, as in a sink or toilet. As water flows out of a small
opening in the bottom of the basin or reservoir, it forms what is called a whirlpool.

Figure 1.1

In fluid dynamics, the strength of rotation or circulation of a vortex is called vorticity.

More precisely, vorticity is the circulation per unit area at a point in the flow field. It
is a vector quantity, whose direction is (roughly speaking) along the axis of the swirl.
Also in fluid dynamics, the movement of a fluid can be said to be vortical if the fluid
moves around in a circle, or in a helix, or if it tends to spin around some axis. Such
motion can also be called solenoidal. In the atmospheric sciences, vorticity is a
property that characterizes large-scale rotation of air masses. Since the atmospheric
circulation is nearly horizontal, the (3 dimensional) vorticity is nearly vertical, and it
is common to use the vertical component as a scalar vorticity.Vortices often have
adverse effects, as have been seen during hurricanes, tornadoes, or scour holes created
downstream of a dam outlet; however, understanding vortex behavior has enabled
engineers to design turbomachinery and hydraulic structures that take advantage of
these phenomena. For example, hydrodynamic separators have been developed, based
on vortex behavior (swirling flow), to separate solid materials from liquids. This type
of separator is used in water treatment plants.

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 1.1 Vortices display some special properties:

● The fluid pressure in a vortex is lowest in the center where the speed is greatest, and rises
progressively with distance from the center. This is in accordance with Bernoulli's
Principle. The spout of a tornado is a classic and frightening example of the visible core of
a vortex. A dust devil is also the core of a vortex, made visible by the dust drawn upwards
by the turbulent flow of air from ground level into the low pressure core.
● The core of every vortex can be considered to contain a vortex line, and every particle in
the vortex can be considered to be circulating around the vortex line. Vortex lines can start
and end at the boundary of the fluid or form closed loops. They cannot start or end in the
fluid. Vortices readily deflect and attach themselves to a solid surface. For example, a
vortex usually forms ahead of the propeller disk or jet engine of a slow-moving airplane.
One end of the vortex line is attached to the propeller disk or jet engine, but when the
airplane is taxiing the other end of the vortex line readily attaches itself to the ground
rather than end in midair. The vortex can suck water and small stones into the core and
then into the propeller disk or jet engine.
● Two or more vortices that are approximately parallel and circulating in the same direction
will quickly merge to form a single vortex. The circulation of the merged vortex will equal
the sum of the circulations of the constituent vortices.
● Vortices contain a lot of energy in the circular motion of the fluid. In an ideal fluid this
energy can never be dissipated and the vortex would persist forever. However, real fluids
exhibit viscosity and this dissipates energy very slowly from the core of the vortex. It is
only through dissipation of a vortex due to viscosity that a vortex line can end in the fluid,
rather than at the boundary of the fluid. For example, the wingtip vortices from an airplane
dissipate slowly and linger in the atmosphere long after the airplane has passed. This is a
hazard to other aircraft and is known as wake turbulence.

1.2 Types of Vortices

Two types of vortices are distinguished in the dynamics of the motion: forced and free vortices.

1.2.1 FREE VORTEX

A free vortex is formed when water flows out of a vessel through a central hole in the base . The
degree of the rotation depends on the initial disturbance. In a free cylindrical vortex, the velocity
varies inversely with the distance from the axis of rotation.No external torque or energy required.

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The fluid rotating under certain energy previously given to them.In a free vortex mechanics,
overall energy flow remains constant. There is no energy interaction between an external source
and a flow or any dissipation of mechanical energy in the flow.

Figure

● Fluid mass rotates due to conservation of angular momentum.

● Velocity inversely proportional to the radius.
● For a free vortex flow,

𝑣 𝑟 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑣 = 𝑐/𝑟

● At the center (r = 0) of rotation velocity approaches to infinite, that point is called singular
point.
● The free vortex flow is irrotational, and therefore, also known as the irrotational vortex.
● In free vortex flow, Bernoulli’s equation can be applied.

1.2.2 Forced Vortex

The forced vortex is caused by external forces on the fluid, such as the impeller of a pump, and
the free vortex naturally occurs in the flow and can be observed in a drain or in the atmosphere of
a tornado.

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To maintain a forced vortex flow, it required a continuous supply of energy or external
torque.

All fluid particles rotate at the constant angular velocity ω as a solid body. Therefore, a
flow of forced vortex is called as a solid body rotation.

Tangential velocity is directly proportional to the radius.

𝑣 = 𝑟𝜔
𝜔= 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑟 = 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

In forced vortex total energy per unit weight increases with an increase in radius.

Forced vortex is not irrotational; rather it is a rotational flow with constant vorticity 2ω.

Figure

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 2. Vortex tube Refrigeration

Introduction
The vortex tube was invented by a student named G.J Ranque in 1932. He was able to create
two streams with different temperatures, using a highly compressed inlet pressure supply. In
1945, a German physicist Rudolf Hilsch improved the vortex tube design of Ranque and he
published his work in a scientific paper. This publication of Hilsch was widely read and was
very well accepted by the scientific community and thereby the energy separation
phenomena in the vortex tube became a topic of great interest.The vortex tube functions as a
device capable of separating a compressed air stream into hot and cold streams with
different mass fractions. This phenomenon is referred to as energy (temperature) separation.
A vortex tube consists of one or more tangential inlet nozzles, an axial tube with a vortex
chamber, a cold gas outlet and a hot gas outlet. Dust free dehumidified compressed air in the
range of 5 to 6 bars is injected into the vortex chamber tangentially through the inlet
nozzles. As the air accelerates through the inlet nozzles, it exits into a cylindrical section
with a high angular velocity which generates an intense swirling flow. The gas then
proceeds towards the hot outlet with the conical back pressure control valve. However, not
all the flow exits through the control valve. A portion of the gas reverses its direction and
moves axially along the center of the tube towards the cold outlet, against the oncoming hot
swirling flow.

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 Figure Vortex tube

As the reversed flow moves towards the cold exit the thermal energy possessed by the core
flow is transferred to the peripheral region of the flow. This results in the peripheral flow
temperature exceeding the inlet gas temperature. The peripheral flow exits through the
annular space between the tube wall and the conical valve at the hot outlet, whereas the core
flow exits through the cold outlet orifice. The relative mass flow rates of hot and cold gasses
are controlled by the conical back pressure valve at the hot outlet. This energy separation
phenomenon is known as the Ranque effect.

Figure Schematic diagram of a Vortex tube

2.1 Construction

2.1.1 Nozzle

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A nozzle is a device designed to control the direction or characteristics of a fluid flow
(especially to increase velocity) as it exists (or enters) an enclosed chamber or pipe.The
nozzles are of converging or diverging or converging-diverging type as per the design. An
efficient nozzle is designed to have higher velocity, greater mass flow and minimum inlet
losses.
2.1.2 Chamber
Chamber is a portion of nozzle and facilitates the tangential entry of the high velocity air
stream into the hot side. Generally the chambers have a noncircular form, but they are
gradually converted into spiral form.
2.1.3 Diaphragm
A diaphragm is a sheet of a semi flexible material anchored at its periphery and most often
round in shape. It serves either as a barrier between two chambers, moving slightly up into
one chamber down into the other depending on the differences in pressure, or as a device
that vibrates when certain frequencies are applied to it.
2.1.4 Valve
A device used for controlling the flow of fluid in the pipe or other enclosure. Control is by
means of a movable element that opens, shuts, or partially obstructs an opening in the
passageway.
2.1.5 Hot air side
Hot side is cylindrical in cross section and is of different length as per design. 2.1.5. Cold air
side Cold side is the cylindrical portion through which cold air is passed.
2.1.6 Diffuser
Diffuser is the device that allows the high velocity air to expand and lowers the temperature
as well as pressure of the air. By the installation of a diffuser it affects the temperature of
cold air.

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2.2 CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE VORTEX TUBE
There are two classifications of the vortex tube.Both of these are currently in use in the
industry.

2.2.1 Counter flow vortex tube

The counter-flow vortex tube consists of an entrance block of nozzle connections with a
central orifice, a vortex tube (or hot tube) and a cone-shaped valve. A source of compressed
gas (e.g. air) at high pressure enters the vortex tube tangentially through one or more inlet
nozzles at a high velocity. The expanding air inside the tube then creates a rapidly spinning
vortex. The air flows through the tube rather than pass through the central orifice located
next to the nozzles because the orifice is of much smaller diameter than the tube. The length
of the tube is typically between 30 and 50 tube diameters, and no optimum value has been
determined between these limits. As the air expands down the tube, the pressure drops
sharply to avalue slightly above atmospheric pressure, and the air velocity can approach the
speed of sound. Centrifugal action will keep this constrained vortex close to the inner
surface of the tube. The air that escapes at the other end of the tube can be varied by a
flow-control valve, usually shaped as a cone. The amount of air released is between 30%
and 70% of the total airflow in the tube. The remainder of the air is returned through the
centre of the tube, along its axis as a counterflowing stream. Once a vortex is set up in the
tube, the air near the axis cools down while the air at periphery heats up in comparison with
the inlet temperature. This phenomenon is known as temperature separation effect (also
called the Ranque–Hilsch effect). As a result, the gas escaping through the orifice is cold
and the hot gas flows out in the other direction. A remarkable feature of this device is the
absence of moving parts and simplicity of operation.

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 Figure

2.2.2 Uni Flow Vortex Tube

The uni-flow vortex tube comprises an entrance block of inlet nozzles, a vortex tube and a
cone-shaped valve with a central orifice. Unlike the more popular counter-flow version, the
cold air exit is located concentrically with the annular exit for the hot air. The operation of
the uni-flow vortex tube is similar to the operation of the counter-flow one. The
temperatures of the air leaving the hot and cold ends can differ by as much as 140–160 1C,
but extremes of up to 230 1C have been measured by Comassar. In general, the practical
low-temperature limit for the cold air stream is _40 1C, although temperatures as low as _50
1C have been obtained with research equipment. The practical limit for the high temperature
is 190 1C, but temperatures in excess of 225 1C have been observed by Bruno. The main
applications of the vortex tube are in those areas where compactness, reliability, and low
equipment costs are the major factors and the operating efficiency is of no consequence.
Some typical applications are cooling devices for airplanes, space suits and mines;
instrument cooling; and industrial process coolers.

Figure

2.3 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES

In general, there are two design features associated with a vortex tube, namely, maximum
temperature drop vortex tube design for producing small quantities of air with very low

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temperatures and maximum cooling effect vortex tube design for producing large quantities
of air with moderate temperatures. These two design considerations have been used in study
for increasing the heat transfer rate during forward motion for swirl air and reversed flow of
axial air. 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 Length of the tube Area at the hot end . Material Used For Vortex Tube
Components The material for cold end (inlet cap) is MS, while the hot end is manufactured
in Brass for its good thermal conductivity and rest of part are manufactured in mild steel for
reducing its overall cost and machining cost

2.4Working
Compressed air is passed through the nozzle as shown in Fig. Here, air expands and acquires
high velocity due to the 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. 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.
Temperature Separation Effect The Vortex Tube Creates two types of vortices: free and
forced. In a free vortex (like a whirlpool) the angular velocity of a fluid particle increases as
it moves toward the Center of the vortex-that is, the closer a particle of fluid is to the center
of a vortex, the faster it rotates. In a forced vortex, the velocity is directly, proportional to
the radius of the vortex the closer the center, the slower the velocity. In a vortex tube, the

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outer (hot) air stream is a free vortex. The inner (cold) air stream is a forced vortex. The
rotational movement of the forced vortex is controlled by the free vortex (hot air stream).
The turbulence of both the hot and cold air streams causes the layers to be locked together in
a single, rotational mass. The inner air stream flows through the hollow core of the outer air
stream at a slower velocity than the outer air stream. Since the energy is proportional to the
square of the velocity, the cold air stream loses its energy by heat transfer. This allows
energy to flow from the inner air stream to the outer air stream as heat creating a cold inner
air stream.

Figure

2.5 PRINCIPLE OF WORK OF VORTEX TUBE

The flow rate and temperature in a Vortex Tube are interdependent. When you open the
adjusting valve at the hot end, the cold air flow decreases and the temperature drops. As you
close the valve the cold air end flow increases and temperature rises. The percentage of the
total input air that exits the cold end is termed the "cold fraction". Depending on inlet air

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temperature a cold fraction of between 60% and 80% produces the optimum combination of
flow and temperature drop for maximum cooling effect. To set the Vortex Tube to the
desired temperature simply insert a thermometer at the cold end and adjust the hot end
valve.The inlet nozzle is tangential to the vortex generator and therefore can provide a high
speed rotating airflow inside the vortex generator. Subsequently, there is a radial temperature
gradient increasing from the inner core of the tube to the outside wall of the tube. This is
primarily because of the potential energy of compressed air converting to kinetic energy due
to the forced vortex caused by the external torque near the tangential air inlet. Therefore the
high speed swirling flow inside the tube and away from the walls is created. The existing air
inside the vortex hot tube is normally at the atmospheric temperature and so, when the
rotating flow enters the vortex tube it expands and its temperature drops to a temperature
lower than the ambient temperature. The difference between these two temperatures will
lead to a temperature gradient along the tube producing colder peripheral air than the core
air. As a result, the central air molecules will lose heat to those in the outer region .It is
notable that this system is a dynamic system due to the nature of the airflow in the tube and
so will not reach equilibrium. Hence the peripheral air has a higher kinetic energy (hotter)
than the inner air (colder). The existence of a major pressure gradient due to the forced
vortex in the radial direction will provide a centripetal force for circular swirling and
therefore it will lead to a high pressure at the tube wall and low pressure at the center. When
the air enters the peripheral region , as it expands, the outer air will be cooled due to its
expansion. Consequently, the inner core air will get warm because it is compressed by the
expansion of the peripheral air. Heat is then transferred from the inner core to the outer core
. As the inner air is being compressed, it naturally tries to push against the periphery by
expanding. Work is therefore done on the outer core air, which then gets heated and the
difference in pressures results in the expansion and contraction of the air, which causes work
to be done on the peripheral air. Work is therefore done on the outer core air, which then gets
heated and the difference in pressures results in the expansion and contraction of the air,
which causes work to be done on the peripheral air. Therefore, heat is transferred radially

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outward

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