Vortex Tubes for Spot Cooling
Vortex Tubes With Metal Generators, Stainless Steel Body
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Vortex Tubes have an adjustable valve at the "hot" end controls the volume of the air flow, and the temperature exiting at the cold end. By adjusting the valve, you control the "cold fraction" which is the percentage of total input compressed air the exits the cold end of the vortex tube.
Inside is the interchangeable "generator" which can alter the air used in the vortex tube, and control the temperature ranges you wish to have at the cold and hot ends. There are several ranges
of generators for compressed air capacity. There are also two basic types of generators - one to produce the extreme cold temperatures (maximum cold temperature out called the C generator) and one type to produce the maximum amount of cooling (maximum refrigeration called the H generator).
Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™ Are Best Because...
Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™ are constructed of stainless steel and use a generator and valve made of brass and sealed with viton o-rings to allow their use in the widest range of environments. Others use plastic generators and standard Buna N O-Rings and charge extra for brass and viton. The unique design and quality of materials used in Frigid-X™ vortex tubes will deliver
years of maintenance-free operation.
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Advantages
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Applications They are used in the following applications.
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How Do Vortex Tubes Work?
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Compressed air, typically at 80-to 100 PSlG enters from the side at a tangent and enters through the generator into the vortex tube, causing the air to spin. This air stream spins toward the hot end where some leaves the ortex tube via the control valve. The remaining, spinning air travels back up the center of the tube. The inner spinning stream gives off heat energy to
the outer stream (which leaves at the hot end as hot air) and exits at the cold end as cooled air. The input air is literally split into hot and cold using no moving parts.
Setting Flow and Temperature in Vortex Tubes
Adjusting the slotted valve at the hot air outlet sets the flow rate and temperature at the cold end. The more air let out at the hot end reduces the cold air flowing and the cold air temperature at the cold end. Close the valve at the hot end and you increase the cold air flow at the cold end as well as the air temperature at the cold end. The percentage of total input air to
the vortex tube that is directed to the cold end is the "cold fraction". A cold fraction of 60% to 80% produces the optimum refrigeration. See the chart below which indicates the temperature "rise" at the hot end and temperature "drop" at the cold end of a vortex tube at various input pressures and "cold Fraction" setting.
Most industrial applications, such as electrical control panel cooling, parts cooling, tool cooling require maximum refrigeration and utilize the Nex Flow™ Frigid-X™ 50000H series vortex tubes. Applications which require extreme cold temperatures such as lab sample cooling, circuit board testing, would utilize the Nex Flow™ Frigid-X™ 50000C series vortex tubes. However,
mufflers are available for both the cold and hot ends if required.
Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™ - Specifications
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Model #
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SCFM @100 PSIG inlet
(SLPM @ 6.9 BAR inlet) |
Btu/hr. at 100 PSIG
(Watts at 6.9 BAR) |
Size
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50002H
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2
(57) |
145
(42) |
small
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50004H
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4
(142) |
290
(85) |
small
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50008H
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8
(226) |
580
(170) |
small
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50010H
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10
(283) |
730
(214) |
medium
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50015H
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15
(425) |
1100
(322) |
medium
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50025H
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25
(708) |
1800
(527) |
medium
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50030H
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30
(850) |
2100
(615) |
medium
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50040H
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40
(1133) |
2900
(849) |
medium
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Model #
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SCFM @100 PSIG inlet
(SLPM @ 6.9 BAR inlet) |
For Cold Temperature
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Size
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50002C
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2
(57) |
----
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small
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50004C
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4
(142) |
----
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small
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50008C
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8
(226) |
----
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small
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50010C
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10
(283) |
----
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medium
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50015C
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15
(425) |
----
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medium
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50025C
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25
(708) |
----
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medium
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50030C
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30
(850) |
----
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medium
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50040C
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40
(1133) |
----
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medium
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Approximate temperature drops (and rises) from inlet air temperature produced by a vortex tube set at various cold fractions. Assume constant inlet pressure and temperature.
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Temperature drop of cold air,
°F (ºC) in blue |
Temperature rise of hot air,
°F (ºC) in red |
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Pressure Supply
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Cold Fraction %
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PSIG (BAR)
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20
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30
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40
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50
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60
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70
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80
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20 (1.4)
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62 (34)
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60 (33)
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56 (31)
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51 (28)
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44 (24)
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36 (20)
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28 (16)
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15 (8)
|
25 (14)
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36 (20)
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50 (28)
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64 (26)
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83 (46)
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107 (59)
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40 (2.8)
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88 (48)
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85 (46)
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80 (42)
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73 (39)
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63 (34)
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52 (28)
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38 (20)
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21 (11)
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35 (18)
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52 (28)
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71 (38)
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92 (50)
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117 (62)
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147 (80)
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60 (4.1)
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104 (57)
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100 (55)
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93 (51)
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84 (46)
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73 (40)
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60 (33)
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46 (25)
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|
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24 (14)
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40 (22)
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59 (33)
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80 (44)
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104 (57)
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132 (73)
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166 (92)
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80 (5.5)
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115 (63)
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110 (62)
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102 (56)
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92 (51)
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80 (45)
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66 (36)
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50 (28)
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25 (14)
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43 (24)
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63 (35)
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86 (47)
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113 (63)
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143 (80)
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180 (100)
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100 (6.9)
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123 (68)
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118 (65)
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110 (61)
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100 (55)
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86 (48)
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71 (39)
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54 (30)
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|
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26 (14)
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45 (25)
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67 (37)
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90 (50)
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119 (66)
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151 (84)
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191 (106)
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120 (8.4)
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129 (72)
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124 (69)
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116 (64)
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104 (58)
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91 (50)
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74 (41)
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55 (31)
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26 (14)
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46 (26)
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69 (38)
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94 (52)
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123 (68)
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156 (86)
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195 (108)
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For larger clearer view download pdf file by clicking on picture above.
