What is a Vortex Tube? The Vortex Tube is an effective, low cost solution to a wide variety of industrial spot cooling and process cooling needs. Compressed air is injected into the vortex tube, flows at a rate of up to 1,000,000 RPM towards the 'hot' end of the tube. Once this hot air reaches the end, a small amount is exhausted through a control valve. The rest of the air is forced backwards towards the other end and exits as 'cold' air. The Vortex Tube can decrease temperatures by ~115°F (46°C) and raise temperatures up by ~200°F (93°C) from the initial inlet air temperature. Which Vortex Tube will best suite my needs? Our Vortex Tubes are available in 2 sizes (Small and Medium). Each Vortex Tube is constructed of stainless steel. The wear resistance of stainless steel, as well as its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, assures that Vortex Tube will provide years of reliable, maintenance free-operation.
	Advantage of Vortex tube
	Safety, as no electricity at the point of application. No RF interference. Low cost of ownership Lower noise. SS 304 construction. Available in two sizes Enhances reliability and durability of equipment
	Applications or Vortex Tube
	Panel cooling Sewing machine needle cooling Tools and plastic grinding and machining Spot cooling
	Specifications and performance

HOW IT WORKS: Vortex Tubes

• (A) Compressed air, normally 80 to 100 PSIG (5.5 - 6.9 BAR) enters the Vortex Tube through a standard NPTM inlet and tangentially through a generator into the vortex spin chamber.
  
  
• (B) This air stream spinning at up to 1,000,000 RPM travels in one direction along the small (hot end) tube and then is forced back through the center of this outer vortex.
  
  
• (C) The brass control valve on the hot end allows for quick n' easy adjustment of the "cold fraction".


• (D) As the center column travels towards the opposite end, it gives off kinetic energy in the form of heat to the outside stream of air and exits the vortex tube as cold air.
  

Which Vortex Tube will best suite my needs?

Our Vortex Tube are available in 2 sizes (Small and Medium). Each Vortex Tube is constructed of stainless steel. The wear resistance of stainless steel, as well as its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, assures that Vortex Tube will provide years of reliable, maintenance free-operation.

The 7500 series Vortex Tube are used in most industrial applications, such as electrical control panel cooling, tool cooling, and parts cooling. These Vortex Tubes optimize airflow and temperature drop to produce maximum cooling power or Btu/hr. (Kcal/hr.).

The 7700 series Vortex Tube are used in applications which require extreme cold termperatures such as circuit board testing, and lab sampling cooling. These Vortex Tubes provide the lowest cold air temperatures, but at a low cold airflow (when less than a 50% cold fraction is used). The 7700 services Vortex Tubes should be only used when temperatures below 0º (-18ºC).

Other Factors

Inlet Air Temperature
The Vortex Tube will provide a temperature drop from the temperature of the compressed air supply.

Back Pressure
A low back pressure, up to 2 PSIG (.1 BAR), will not affect the performance of the Vortex Tube. Anything over this will have a performance degration of ~ 5ºF (2.8ºC).

Filtration
Filtration to maintain clean air is necessary at a rate of 25 microns or less. filters contain a 5 micron element and are properly sized for airflow.

Noise/Muffling
Both Small and Medium Vortex Tubes can be quite noisey if unducted. offers mufflters for both cold and hot air discharge. If the cold air is ducted, muffling is not usually required.

Vortex Tube Specifications

Actual Vortex Tube Performance

The cold fraction is the "percentage flow" of the airflow at cold end. So a 60% cold fraction means 60% of airflow comes out cold end and 40% goes out the hot end.

The above table is for the 7500 Series (10-15 SCFM) Medium sized vortex tubes. The performance can significantly change for higher flow designs. With that said, it's not generally important to get such "low" tempueratures and in most application the Vortex Tube is "preset" to produce a specific temperature drop.

The cold fraction table above is ONLY for the 7500 Series Generators, or as some competitors like to call ('H' Generators). The 7700 Series Vortex Tube ('C' Generators), produce very cold temperatures but with a lower cold end flow. The 7700 Generators are not designed for high BTU/Hr (or watt) cooling effect.

Temperature drop and Cold end airflow vary inversely between the two as the "cold fraction" changes. The cooling effect is a balance and combination of both outlet flow and temperature drop. Colder temperatures produces do NOT always mean the absolute highest cooling effect will be produced.