Work

Characterization of gas impinging vibrations on vortex tube energy separation at the hot end regulator valve

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • The energy distribution of the gas into the vortex tube is different after impinging on different shapes of hot end regulating valves. By studying the effects of triangular conical, cylindrical, truncated conical and semicircular valves on temperature, velocity and pressure changes after gas impact, the role of gas shock vibration on energy separation is indirectly reflected. • It was found that the inlet pressure of the vortex tube has a significant effect on the hot and cold separation effect. As the pressure increases, the separation effect curve gradually flattens out. When the pressure reaches a certain value, the separation effect is optimized and the calculation cost is reduced. Determination of the inlet pressure needs to be combined with the calculation of the cold flow rate. • It is found that in numerical computation, the mesh quality has a significant impact on the accuracy of the simulation results. The choice of different mesh shapes and quantities has a large impact on the convergence of the simulation process. A suitable mesh model not only significantly affects the simulation and computation time, but is also closely related to the fit of the solid model. • It has been found that in vortex tubes, the energy exchange boundary region within the thermal short tube has a significant effect on the energy separation effect. The point where the velocity is zero constitutes the surface of the temperature exchange boundary layer. The location of the velocity zero point near the hot end of the vortex tube is the hysteresis stop. • It was found that the intensity of gas vibration affects the location of the hysteresis point, which is closely related to the temperature separation effect. This result indicates that the vibration generated by the gas impinging on the hot end regulator valve affects the energy separation effect of the vortex tube. This paper investigates the impact of gas impingement-induced vibrations on the energy separation of vortex tubes by altering the shape of the hot end regulator valve. Through numerical simulations combined with physical model theory, the results are fitted and analyzed. It is discovered that when gas impacts a cylindrical hot end regulator valve, the vibration magnitude is the highest compared to triangular conical, cylindrical, and truncated conical shapes. This results in the highest hot end outlet temperature and a relatively higher cold end temperature, which is attributed to the full-step vibration generated post-impact. Additionally, the position of the stagnation point after gas impingement is found to be positively correlated with the vibration magnitude and the outlet temperature along the axial direction. The study also confirms that the outlet temperature is positively correlated with both the stagnation point position and the vibration magnitude. The physical model is reproduced, and the experimental data align with numerical simulations at 83.75 %, validating the model’s reliability.

Source: Applied Thermal Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.126152

Authors: Shuyang Liu, Dejun Gan, Shenshen Li, Zhiyuan Huang, Zhihong Han

Institutions: Putian University, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute

Language: English

Topic: Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,660

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Putian University