Computational analysis of flow features and energy separation in a counter-flow vortex tube based on number of inlets
Computational analysis of flow features and energy separation in a counter-flow vortex tube based on number of inlets
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DOI：
10.1016/j.energy.2017.02.025
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发表时间：
2017-03
期刊：
影响因子：
9
通讯作者：
R. Manimaran
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
R. Manimaran
本文采用三维计算流体力学方法对逆流涡流管内的能量分离进行了研究。这项工作的目的是了解影响涡管内部核心流层和外围流层之间能量分离的流动特征。在以空气为工质的情况下，对1~6个不同数量的梯形进气道进行了比较分析，并对进气道的总质量流量等几何参数保持不变。结果表明，与文献中观察到的一样，单进气口的分离温度最高。此外，中心与外围分界线上的涡量和湍动能随进气口数目的增加而减小。为了理解这一点，流线型线被可视化。分析表明，较大的核心流层直径、较小的平均螺距和较长的停留时间是影响能量分离的主要因素。研究还发现，单进气口的二次环流涡流较为突出。这些旋涡的大小与数量无关，在能量分离中起着关键作用。
In the present study, three dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulations are carried out to understand the energy separation in the counter-flow vortex tube. The objective of the work is to understand the flow features that affect the energy separation between the core and peripheral flow layers inside the vortex tube. Trapezoidal shaped inlets of varying numbers from one to six are compared and analyzed, while the total inlet mass flow rate and other geometrical parameters are held constant with air as a working fluid. From the results, highest temperature separation is observed with single inlet as observed in the literature. Further, the vorticity and turbulent kinetic energy at the dividing line between core and periphery decrease with the increase in number of inlets. To understand the same, streamlines are visualized. Analysis reveals that higher core flow layer diameter, lower mean pitch distance and longer residence time are the main factors affecting energy separation. It is also found that secondary circulation vortices are prominent with the single inlet. The size of these vortices regardless of the number plays a key role in energy separation.