Vortex Tubes – a unique spot cooling device using no electricity

Vortex Tubes  Vortex Tubes Addendum  Maintenance & Installation

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.

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. Frigid-X™ vortex tubes may also be supplied with a fixed preset "cold function" instead of an adjustable valve.

Inside is the interchangeable brass "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).

Vortex Tubes - How Frigid-X™ Vortex Tubes Work

Compressed air enters at point (A). Inside the vortex 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”.

Why Frigid-X™ Vortex Tubes Are Best Because...
Vortex tubes 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. This also allows for greater life and better consistency between votrex tube made. In addition, it is useable in high temperature environments AS IT COMES with NO extra charge unlike many of our competitors.

Most competitors 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.

Controlling The Flow And Temperature In Frigid-X™ Vortex Tubes

The flow rate and temperature in a vortex tube are independant. When you can open the adjusting valve at the hot end, the cold air flow decreases and the temperature drops. As you close the valve at the cold air end flow increases and the temperature rises. 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.