Experimental investigation and exergy analysis of the performance of a counter flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube with regard to nozzle cross-section areas

Exergy analysis and performance of a Ranque–Hilsch Vortex Tube (RHVT) with various nozzle cross-section areas (NCSA = 3 × 3, 4 × 4, 5 × 5 mm2) were determined under inlet pressures (Pi) of 260, 300 kPa (absolute) pressurized air. The maximum difference in the temperatures of hot output and cold output streams was obtained for NCSA = 3 × 3 mm2. The total inlet exergy ( ∑ E ˙ i ) , total outlet exergy ( ∑ E ˙ O ) , total lost exergy ( ∑ E ˙ Lost ) and exergy efficiency (η, %) were calculated. It was determined that the exergy efficiency of the system, varied between 1% and 39%, and the highest exergy efficiency was obtained for NCSA = 3 × 3 mm2. The exergy efficiency strongly depends on the level of Pi, ξ and vcold. Variation of the exergy efficiency decreased with decreasing Pi, ξ, vcold and the highest and lowest exergy efficiencies were found when the values of Pi, ξ, vcold reached maximum and minimum levels, respectively.