Vortex Tubes are devices that work on a standard compressed air supply. Air enters the vortex tube and literally splits the air flow into two parts - cold air at one end, and hot air at the other - all without any moving parts. Unlike
the competition who may charge “extra” for high temperature versions, Nex Flow vortex tubes are already designed for high temperature environments at no extra cost - quality at a superior price!
Vortex Tubes have an adjustable valve at the "hot" end controls the volume of the air flow, and the temperature exiting at the cold end. By adjusting the valve, you control the "cold fraction" which is the
percentage of total input compressed air the exits the cold end of the vortex tube.
Inside is the interchangeable "generator"
which can alter the air used in the vortex tube, and control the temperature ranges you wish to have at the cold and hot ends. There are several ranges of generators for compressed air capacity. There are also two basic types
of generators - one to produce the extreme cold temperatures (maximum cold temperature out called the C generator) and one type to produce the maximum amount of cooling (maximum refrigeration called the H generator).
Compressed air enters at point (A). Inside the tube the compressed air is made to spin using a “generator”. It travels in one direction along the small (hot end) tube and then back inside itself in the reverse direction creating one stream of air (B) and the second stream of air (C) in the opposite direction. The outside stream of air gets hot and exhausts at point (D). The centre column of air gets cold and exists at point (E). Temperatures and capacities can vary by adjusting the hot end plug at (D) and by using different “generators”.
Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™ Are Best Because...
Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™ are constructed of stainless steel and use a generator and valve made of brass and sealed with viton o-rings to allow their use in the widest range of environments. Others use plastic generators and standard Buna N O-Rings and charge extra for brass and viton. The unique design and quality of materials used in Frigid-X™ vortex tubes will deliver years of maintenance-free operation.
Advantages
No moving parts, reliable, maintenance free
No coolant
Compact and lightweight
Low cost application
Maintenance free units
Instant cold air in environmental chambers
No spark or explosion hazard
Interchangeable generators
Applications
They are used in the following applications.
Cool electronic and electrical controls
Cool machine operations/tooling
Cool CCTV cameras
Set hot melt adhesives
Cool soldered parts
Cool gas samples
Cool heat seals
Cooling environmental chambers
How Do Vortex Tubes Work?
Compressed air, typically at 80-to 100 PSlG enters from the side at a tangent and enters through the generator into the vortex tube, causing the air to spin. This air stream spins toward the hot end where some leaves the vortex tube via the control valve. The remaining, spinning air travels back up the center of the tube. The inner spinning stream gives off heat energy to the outer stream (which leaves at the hot end as hot air) and exits at the cold end as cooled air. The input air is literally split into hot and cold using no moving parts.
Setting Flow and Temperature in Vortex Tubes
Adjusting the slotted valve at the hot air outlet sets the flow rate and temperature at the cold end. The more air let out at the hot end reduces the cold air flowing and the cold air temperature at the cold end. Close the valve at the hot end and you increase the cold air flow at the cold end as well as the air temperature at the cold end. The percentage of total input air to the vortex tube that is directed to the cold end is the "cold fraction". A cold fraction of 60% to 80% produces the optimum refrigeration. See the chart below which indicates the temperature "rise" at the hot end and temperature "drop" at the cold end of a vortex tube at various input pressures and "cold Fraction" setting.
Most industrial applications, such as electrical control panel cooling, parts cooling, tool cooling require maximum refrigeration and utilize the Nex Flow™ Frigid-X™ 50000H series vortex tubes. Applications which require extreme cold temperatures such as lab sample cooling, circuit board testing, would utilize the Nex Flow™ Frigid-X™ 50000C series vortex tubes. However, mufflers are available for both the cold and hot ends if required.
Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™
- Specifications
Model #
SCFM @100 PSIG inlet
(SLPM @ 6.9 BAR inlet)
Btu/hr. at 100 PSIG
(Watts at 6.9 BAR)
Size
50002H
2
(57)
145
(42)
small
50004H
4
(142)
290
(85)
small
50008H
8
(226)
580
(170)
small
50010H
10
(283)
730
(214)
medium
50015H
15
(425)
1100
(322)
medium
50025H
25
(708)
1800
(527)
medium
50030H
30
(850)
2100
(615)
medium
50040H
40
(1133)
2900
(849)
medium
Model #
SCFM @100 PSIG inlet
(SLPM @ 6.9 BAR inlet)
For Cold Temperature
Size
50002C
2
(57)
----
small
50004C
4
(142)
----
small
50008C
8
(226)
----
small
50010C
10
(283)
----
medium
50015C
15
(425)
----
medium
50025C
25
(708)
----
medium
50030C
30
(850)
----
medium
50040C
40
(1133)
----
medium
Approximate temperature drops (and rises) from inlet air temperature produced by a vortex tube set at various cold fractions. Assume constant inlet pressure and temperature.
Temperature drop of cold air,
°F (ºC) in blue
Temperature rise of hot air,
°F (ºC) in red
Pressure Supply
Cold Fraction %
PSIG (BAR)
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
20 (1.4)
62 (34)
60 (33)
56 (31)
51 (28)
44 (24)
36 (20)
28 (16)
15 (8)
25 (14)
36 (20)
50 (28)
64 (26)
83 (46)
107 (59)
40 (2.8)
88 (48)
85 (46)
80 (42)
73 (39)
63 (34)
52 (28)
38 (20)
21 (11)
35 (18)
52 (28)
71 (38)
92 (50)
117 (62)
147 (80)
60 (4.1)
104 (57)
100 (55)
93 (51)
84 (46)
73 (40)
60 (33)
46 (25)
24 (14)
40 (22)
59 (33)
80 (44)
104 (57)
132 (73)
166 (92)
80 (5.5)
115 (63)
110 (62)
102 (56)
92 (51)
80 (45)
66 (36)
50 (28)
25 (14)
43 (24)
63 (35)
86 (47)
113 (63)
143 (80)
180 (100)
100 (6.9)
123 (68)
118 (65)
110 (61)
100 (55)
86 (48)
71 (39)
54 (30)
26 (14)
45 (25)
67 (37)
90 (50)
119 (66)
151 (84)
191 (106)
120 (8.4)
129 (72)
124 (69)
116 (64)
104 (58)
91 (50)
74 (41)
55 (31)
26 (14)
46 (26)
69 (38)
94 (52)
123 (68)
156 (86)
195 (108)
For larger clearer view download pdf file by clicking on picture above.
Inside is the interchangeable "generator"
which can alter the air used in the vortex tube, and control the temperature ranges you wish to have at the cold and hot ends. There are several ranges of generators for compressed air capacity. There are also two basic types
of generators - one to produce the extreme cold temperatures (maximum cold temperature out called the C generator) and one type to produce the maximum amount of cooling (maximum refrigeration called the H generator).
