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Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions

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  • Konstantin I. Matveev

    (School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2920, USA)

  • Jacob Leachman

    (School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2920, USA)

Abstract

Improving efficiency of hydrogen cooling in cryogenic conditions is important for the wider applications of hydrogen energy systems. The approach investigated in this study is based on a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) that generates temperature separation in a working fluid. The simplicity of RHVT is also a valuable characteristic for cryogenic systems. In the present work, novel shapes of RHVT are computationally investigated with the goal to raise efficiency of the cooling process. Specifically, a smooth transition is arranged between a vortex chamber, where compressed gas is injected, and the main tube with two exit ports at the tube ends. Flow simulations have been carried out using STAR-CCM+ software with the real-gas Redlich-Kwong model for hydrogen at temperatures near 70 K. It is determined that a vortex tube with a smooth transition of moderate size manifests about 7% improvement of the cooling efficiency when compared vortex tubes that use traditional vortex chambers with stepped transitions and a no-chamber setup with direct gas injection.

Suggested Citation

  • Konstantin I. Matveev & Jacob Leachman, 2021. "Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:5:p:1429-:d:511254
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eiamsa-ard, Smith & Promvonge, Pongjet, 2008. "Review of Ranque-Hilsch effects in vortex tubes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(7), pages 1822-1842, September.
    2. Thakare, Hitesh R. & Monde, Aniket & Parekh, Ashok D., 2015. "Experimental, computational and optimization studies of temperature separation and flow physics of vortex tube: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1043-1071.
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