2D Numerical Simulation of a Micro Scale Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube

  In this study, fluid flow and energy separation in a micro-scale Ranque-HilschVortex Tube are numerically investigated. The flow is assumed as 2D, steady,compressible ideal gas, and shear-stress-transport SST k-W is found to be a bestchoice for modeling of turbulence phenomena. The results are in a good agreementwith the experimental results reported in the literature. The results show that fluidflow and energy separation inside the micro-scale vortex tube is quite similar tothose of traditional ones. Moreover, it is found that non-dimensional forms of coldtemperature difference and refrigerating capacity are only dependent on cold massfraction. In addition, two correlations have been proposed to estimate nondimensional forms of cold temperature difference and refrigeration capacity in themicro-scale vortex tube.