Modeling study of the energy separation effect of a control valve structure on a vortex tube

This paper compares the effect of different angles of triangular conical and truncated conical regulating valves on the heat and cold separation of vortex tubes. Numerical simulation and experimental studies show that60° truncated cone regulating valve has better cooling effect. The inlet pressure is in the range of 0.2MPa–0.4 MPa, and the temperature rate change at the cold end of the vortex tube is larger and the numerical change is smaller. Under the same circumstances, the temperature at the cold end of the vortex tube is connected to the area of cold-heat exchange in the tube at the hot end, as well as to the location of the fluid's stagnation point. The vortex merging rate is related to the angle and form of the regulating valve. The experimental data and the simulation results are in relative agreement with each other, with the maximum temperature difference being 4.41 % and the minimum difference being 3.52 %. The numerical simulation is validated by the house validation method using the theoretical model and experimental study, and the change of the angle of the control valve has the same trend with the numerical change of the theoretical model. © 2024 The Authors