Studies of unsteady thermo-fluid mechanic devices

本研究计划的主要目的是促进对Ranque-Hilsch（涡旋）管装置的理解和应用。涡流管是一个非常简单的，不移动的部分，气动装置，分离冷流体和热流体的冷却目的。它利用压缩气体，切向注入旋涡管，以建立一个强大的旋流。对于这些装置运行的物理解释仍然存在争议。此外，由于涡流较强，对装置内部流场的实验测量非常困难。最近在我们实验室进行的实验表明，冷却效应只发生在与湍流相一致的雷诺数下。这项工作导致了一个问题，即是否使装置受到脉动供应流将导致所需的能量分离。

The primary aim of this research program is to advance the state of understanding and application of Ranque-Hilsch (vortex) tube devices. The vortex tube is a very simple, non-moving part, pneumatic device that separates cold fluid from hot fluid for cooling purposes. It utilizes compressed gas, injected tangentially into the vortex tube to establish a strong swirling flow. There is still controversy over the physical explanation of the operation of these devices. In addition, experimental measurements of the internal flow field of the devices are extremely difficult due to the strong vortex flow. Recent experiments conducted, in our laboratory, show that the cooling effect only occurs at Reynolds numbers consistent with turbulence. This work leads to the question of whether subjecting the device to a pulsating supply flow would result in the desired energy separation.