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
106-2-H | 2 | 57 | 100 | 25 |
106-4-H | 4 | 113 | 255 | 64 |
106-8-H | 8 | 226 | 400 | 101 |
208-11-H | 11 | 311 | 640 | 161 |
208-15-H | 15 | 425 | 900 | 227 |
208-25-H | 25 | 708 | 1500 | 378 |
308-35-H | 35 | 991 | 2650 | 668 |
328-50-H | 50 | 1415 | 3000 | 756 |
328-75-H | 75 | 2123 | 4500 | 1134 |
328-100-H | 100 | 2830 | 6000 | 1512 |
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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