IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i16p4180-d1461395.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Thermodynamic-Based Black-Box Modeling Approach for the Comprehensive Analysis of Vortex Tube Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Sager

    (Institute of Power Plant Technology, Steam and Gas Turbines, RWTH Aachen University, Mathieustraße 9, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Nils Hendrik Petersen

    (Institute of Power Plant Technology, Steam and Gas Turbines, RWTH Aachen University, Mathieustraße 9, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Manfred Wirsum

    (Institute of Power Plant Technology, Steam and Gas Turbines, RWTH Aachen University, Mathieustraße 9, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

Abstract

To combat climate change successfully, enhancing existing processes is imperative alongside exploring new regenerative technologies. For this purpose, new components must be considered to improve the efficiency of thermodynamic processes. A promising candidate is the Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube due to its low investment cost and maintenance. Previous research has highlighted the thermodynamic advantages of employing a vortex tube in various applications, such as Brayton cycles or as a replacement for conventional expansion valves. However, to assess the potential of the vortex tube within a thermodynamic process, a computationally efficient but precise model of the vortex tube is required. Existing modeling approaches often fail to accurately predict experimental trends or require information such as geometry data that are not available for potential analyses. Thus, the present study proposes a novel thermodynamic-based black-box modeling approach: the vortex tube efficiency is introduced by incorporating operating and geometrical conditions into a single parameter. The vortex tube efficiency is systematically investigated for different operating conditions and various fluids and compared with available experimental results. The resulting modeling approach allows the qualitative and quantitative prediction of vortex tube behavior for air at various operating pressures and cold gas fractions. Further experimental investigations are required for a comprehensive quantitative description of vortex tubes with different geometries and working fluids.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Sager & Nils Hendrik Petersen & Manfred Wirsum, 2024. "A Thermodynamic-Based Black-Box Modeling Approach for the Comprehensive Analysis of Vortex Tube Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:16:p:4180-:d:1461395
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/16/4180/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/16/4180/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Subudhi, Sudhakar & Sen, Mihir, 2015. "Review of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube experiments using air," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 172-178.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Bo & Guo, Xiangji, 2018. "Prospective applications of Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes to sustainable energy utilization and energy efficiency improvement with energy and mass separation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 135-150.
    2. Rogovyi, Andrii & Korohodskyi, Vladimir & Medvediev, Yevhen, 2021. "Influence of Bingham fluid viscosity on energy performances of a vortex chamber pump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:16:p:4180-:d:1461395. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.