Experimental investigation on the acoustic characteristics and cooling performance of the vortex tube

• Published in: International journal of refrigeration Vol. 131; pp. 535 - 546
• Main Authors: Liang, Fachun, Xu, Changyi, Tang, Guoxiang, Wang, Jiaxin, Wang, Zhengyu, Li, Naiming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier B.V 01.11.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Acoustic characteristic; Acoustics; Caractéristiques acoustiques; Cooling; Energy separation; Experimental investigation; Heat transfer; Inlet pressure; Nozzles; Separation; Sound intensity; Sound pressure; Séparation d’énergie; Tube vortex; Tubes; Vortex tube; Vortices; Working fluids; Étude expérimentale; Séparation d’énergie; Tube vortex; Vortex tube; Étude expérimentale; Acoustic characteristic; Energy separation; Experimental investigation; Caractéristiques acoustiques
• ISSN: 0140-7007; 1879-2081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2021.08.001

•Frequency domain analysis of the acoustic signal of the vortex tube was conducted.•The sound energy is mainly concentrated in the frequency range of 4000-5000 Hz.•Higher inlet pressure tends to produce higher acoustic intensity.•Energy separation efficiency increases with the growth of the sound pressure level.•The vortex tube with 5 nozzles has the maximum coefficient of performance. The purpose of this paper is to study the acoustic signal characteristics of a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube and discuss the energy separation phenomenon behind it. Experiments were conducted with air as the working fluid. The acoustic signal and corresponding thermal fluid parameters are measured. The influencing factors such as inlet pressure, nozzle number, and cold mass fraction were investigated. The results show that the acoustic energy of the vortex tube is chiefly within the range from 4000 Hz to 5000 Hz. Two frequency peaks (about 1500 Hz and 4200 Hz) are observed in the frequency domain. As the inlet pressure increases, the sound pressure level(SPL) increases, and as the cold mass fraction increases, the SPL decreases. There is a positive correlation between the sound intensity and the energy separation performance. Interestingly, the vortex tube with 5 nozzles produces maximum SPL and COP (Coefficient of performance) compared to the 4-nozzle and 6-nozzle vortex tubes.