Research Information System
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRIGERATION, vol.1, pp.1-11, 2026 (SCI-Expanded)
The counter-flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) is a compact fluid device without moving parts, except for the control valve, recognized for its simple structure and environmentally friendly operation. In this study, twelve experimental configurations were developed to investigate the performance of dual (DRHVT) and triple (TRHVT) parallel vortex tube systems, representing an innovative approach compared to conventional singletube designs. Compressed air was used as the working fluid, and nozzles made of polyamide and aluminum were tested with two, four, and six outlets under inlet pressures ranging from 200 to 700 kPa. Thermodynamic and exergy-based evaluations were conducted to determine efficiency, exergy output, destruction, and temperature distribution. The results demonstrated that multi-tube configurations significantly enhanced energy separation performance, achieving a maximum efficiency of 59%, exergy output of 94 kJ/kg, and minimum exergy loss of 66 kJ/kg in the aluminum TRHVT with six nozzles at 700 kPa. The lowest efficiency (12%) was obtained in the polyamide DRHVT with two nozzles at 200 kPa. The originality of this study lies in the comparative thermodynamic and exergy evaluation of dual and triple RHVT systems, highlighting the influence of nozzle material, outlet configuration, and parallel arrangement on overall system performance.