Vortex Tubes – A Quick Video Overview
Vortex Tubes – Brief Info
The vortex tube was first discovered in 1930 by French physicist Georges Ranque. However, it was Vortec that pioneered the development of this phenomenon into practical and effective cooling solutions for industrial applications.
The basic principle of the vortex tube involves the creation of a vortex from compressed air, which is then separated into two air streams: one hot and one cold. Compressed air is introduced into a cylindrical generator that is proportionately larger than the hot tube. This causes the air to rotate, creating a vortex similar to a tornado. The rotating air is then forced down the inner walls of the hot tube at speeds of up to 1,000,000 rotations per minute.
At the end of the hot tube, a small portion of the air is released through a needle valve as hot air exhaust. The remaining air is forced back through the center of the incoming air stream at a slower speed, allowing for the transfer of heat from the slower moving air to the faster moving incoming air. This results in the production of super-cooled air, which exits through the cold air exhaust port located at the center of the generator.