Vortex tube

Introduction

The vortex tube seems like a relatively unknown principle with huge potential. It can produce both heating and cooling at the same time, out of compressed air, without any moving parts. It's a small part which when connected to an outlet for compressed air of about 7 bars, divides the air stream into a hot and a cold stream. The hot side can reach 200 degrees Celcius, and the cold side -50 degrees Celcius.

Image of a vortex tube

This article relates to the application of compressed air. Compressed air is a energy source with a wide range of applications.

Compressed air might not be the most efficient energy source, because it cannot be produced very efficiently. A compressor produces excess heat, but this heat could also be utilized, for instance for hot water. A compressor is a simple and inexpensive piece of equipment which can be driven by a lot of different mechanical forces. For instance, a wind-driven compressor is a simple set-up which can be realised without much material costs and work. The biggest problem with compressed air is storage. Compressed air takes a lot of storage space, and high preassures represent a risk of violent explosions.

A storage tank for compressed air could be produced inexpensively from a light structure covered with a glassfibre reinforced resin. Preferably, such a tank should be buried underground, for safety in case of rupture. The external support of the earth would also enable the storage to withstand internal preassure.

Links

• "Vortex tube" on en.wikipedia.org