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Analytical And Computational Modelling Of The Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube, Nolan J. Dyck

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) is a simple mechanical device with no moving parts capable of separating a supply of compressed fluid into hot and cold streams through a process called temperature separation. The overall aim is to develop models which can be used to assess the temperature separation mechanisms in the RHVT, leading to a better overall understanding of the underlying physics. The introductory chapter contains a thermodynamic analysis and introduction to the flow physics, alongside three miniature literature reviews and critiques identifying research gaps.

The body of the thesis contains three articles. The first article studies the flow …