Vortex tubes0 pages

Vortex Tubes

Sub-Zero Spot Cooiing from Compressed Air

Vortex Tubes are an effective, low cost solution to a wide

variety of industrial spot and process cooling needs. With no

moving parts, a vortex tube spins compressed air to separate

the air into cold and hot air streams. While French physicist

Georges Ranque is credited with inventing the vortex tube in

1930, ITW Vortec was the first company to develop and apply

this phenomenon into practical and effective cooling solutions for industrial use. Vortex Tubes have a

very wide range of application for spot cooling on machines, assembly lines and processes.

Vortex Tubes have many applications:

• Cool machine operations • Keep electronics cool

• Dry ink on labels and bottles • Set solders and adhesives

• Temperature cycle parts • Dehumidify gas samples

Cool cutter blades

Thermal test sensors

Cool heat seal operations

Cool plastic injection molds

Cold Air Out

How Vortex Tubes Operate

compressor in Vortex Tube Technology

Vortex Generation Chamber

Hot Air Out

A vortex tube spins compressed air to produce hot and cold air streams,

generating temperatures down to 100T below inlet temperature

Fluid (air) that rotates around an axis (like a tornado) is called a vortex. A vortex

Tube creates cold air and hot air by forcing compressed air through a

generation chamber, which spins the air at a high rate of speed (1,000,000

RPM) into a vortex. The high-speed air heats up as it spins along the inner walls

of the Tube toward the control valve. A percentage of the hot, high speed air is

permitted to exit at the valve. The remainder of the (now slower) air stream is

forced to counterflow up through the center of the high-speed air stream in a

second vortex. The slower moving air gives up energy in the form of heat and

becomes cooled as it spins up the tube. The chilled air passes through the

center of the generation chamber finally exiting through the opposite end as

extremely cold air. Vortex tubes generate temperatures down to 100°F below

inlet air temperature. The control valve located in the hot exhaust end can be

used to adjust the temperature drop and rise for all Vortex Tubes.

I

AIR CONSUMPTION CAPACITY (100 PSIG)

(SCFM) (SLPM) BTUH kCAL/hr

Specifications are at 100 PSIG (6.9 Bar).

Maintenance free - no moving parts

Cycle repeatability within ±1°

Drops inlet temperature by up to 100°F

Cools without electricity or refrigerants

Exceptionally reliable, compact and lightweight

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