Going from traditional coolant use to a vortex tube is a choice many people make these days. It has found a place in many factories, because it is energy efficient and cost effective. It replaces electricity with compressed air as a power source, making it a viable spot cooling alternative for industries based in third world countries. With just a slight change in dimension and length, it can also be used to cool homes and small offices.
How does a vortex tube work? When the compressed air enters, its spin rate increases and the cold stream is pushed into the shell or outer shell. This, then, is the first to escape through the conical end of the tube, while the rest of the compressed air rotates towards the other end as a current of heat. It is often subjected to heat dissipation to make it efficient for use in refrigerators and other environmentally friendly cooling appliances.
Despite all its great qualities, a vortex tube has its own limitations. One is that it takes longer to produce cold air than its electric counterparts. Perhaps this explains why he is selective about what kind of assembly lines work best. Small to medium scale machinery is what may find vortex tubes appropriate. Large-scale industrial facilities will often continue to opt for electrical cooling agents to regulate temperatures. However, research continues for vortex pipes to speed up their process of separating hot and cold streams.
The cost savings potential is quite high with a vortex tube. For one thing, it doesn’t require a lot of manpower to operate and maintain. Inside there are no complex mechanisms or parts to clean. It is often made of stainless steel which guarantees long years of use. The use of said raw material also allows these tubes to be customized for specific applications. The length and circumference of the tube itself can determine the speed at which the compressed air inside it rotates. Smaller ones are said to produce cold currents faster.
The future of the vortex tube is certainly in the field of information technology. In fact, it’s already making its way inside today’s computers and other mobile devices, cooling their tiny, highly sensitive internals. It is there that they are in their smallest dimensions and therefore most effective and efficient.