Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube

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The Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube is a device that separates a flow of ordinary compressed gas in to a hot stream and a cold stream, just like Maxwell's Demon.

I spent several years investigating the operation of the Ranque-Hilsch Tube, while a research student at Cambridge University Engineering Department from 1991-1995. My thesis, along with some general information on the tube is reproduced here.

• Overview material.
• Read chapters from my thesis.
• How to get a copy of my thesis.
• Read the copyright statement applying to these pages.
• Read about the background to these pages
• If you have questions...

Overview material

• Constructional Details
• A brief discussion of the energy transfer Phenomenon
• Vortex whistle WAV files
• Vortex Tube Performance
• Applications of the Vortex Tube
• Sponsors of the Project

Chapters from my Thesis

• Chapter 1: An introduction to the vortex tube
• Chapter 2: Vortex tube literature survey
• Chapter 3: Experimental investigation
• Chapter 4: Computational investigation
• Chapter 5: Mechanisms of energy transfer
• Chapter 6: A model of Ranque-Hilsch Tube performance
• Chapter 7: Applications
• Vortex tube references . Also available as a pdf file.

How to get a copy of my thesis

Until recently I have been giving copies of my thesis away free of charge. Demand is such that I can no longer afford to do this, from both financial and time perspectives. I now have to ask for a small charge if you want to order a copy of the thesis directly from me. It is available only in electronic form, either over the net or on CDROM. If you don't want to pay me any money, then you can also obtain a copy of the work via interlibrary loans from Cambridge University Library. Details of how to get a copy of my thesis, the costs involved and the type of payment I can accept are available from the links below.

• Order an electronic copy
• Order a CDROM copy
• Get a copy via interlibrary loans

Statement of copyright

While you are welcome to take copies or printouts of this material for your personal use, please note that all this material is copyright (c) by Tim Cockerill, and may not be otherwise reproduced without my express written permission. In particular this material may not be distributed in any form including CD-ROM collections of web pages, in book or other printed form or on any mirror sites other than (i) world wide web proxy caches, (ii) freely accessible world wide web indexes such as Lycos or Alta Vista.

Action may be taken against any individuals or organisations found to be in breach of these conditions.

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