Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions
Improving efficiency of hydrogen cooling in cryogenic conditions is important for the wider applications of hydrogen energy systems. The approach investigated in this study is based on a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) that generates temperature separation in a working fluid. The simplicity of RHVT...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1429 |
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| author | Konstantin I. Matveev Jacob Leachman |
| author_facet | Konstantin I. Matveev Jacob Leachman |
| author_sort | Konstantin I. Matveev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improving efficiency of hydrogen cooling in cryogenic conditions is important for the wider applications of hydrogen energy systems. The approach investigated in this study is based on a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) that generates temperature separation in a working fluid. The simplicity of RHVT is also a valuable characteristic for cryogenic systems. In the present work, novel shapes of RHVT are computationally investigated with the goal to raise efficiency of the cooling process. Specifically, a smooth transition is arranged between a vortex chamber, where compressed gas is injected, and the main tube with two exit ports at the tube ends. Flow simulations have been carried out using STAR-CCM+ software with the real-gas Redlich-Kwong model for hydrogen at temperatures near 70 K. It is determined that a vortex tube with a smooth transition of moderate size manifests about 7% improvement of the cooling efficiency when compared vortex tubes that use traditional vortex chambers with stepped transitions and a no-chamber setup with direct gas injection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:20:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a772563694b144dfbdc79b10cdb55308 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:20:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-a772563694b144dfbdc79b10cdb553082023-12-03T12:41:28ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-03-01145142910.3390/en14051429Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth TransitionsKonstantin I. Matveev0Jacob Leachman1School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2920, USASchool of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2920, USAImproving efficiency of hydrogen cooling in cryogenic conditions is important for the wider applications of hydrogen energy systems. The approach investigated in this study is based on a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) that generates temperature separation in a working fluid. The simplicity of RHVT is also a valuable characteristic for cryogenic systems. In the present work, novel shapes of RHVT are computationally investigated with the goal to raise efficiency of the cooling process. Specifically, a smooth transition is arranged between a vortex chamber, where compressed gas is injected, and the main tube with two exit ports at the tube ends. Flow simulations have been carried out using STAR-CCM+ software with the real-gas Redlich-Kwong model for hydrogen at temperatures near 70 K. It is determined that a vortex tube with a smooth transition of moderate size manifests about 7% improvement of the cooling efficiency when compared vortex tubes that use traditional vortex chambers with stepped transitions and a no-chamber setup with direct gas injection.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1429hydrogen systemscryogenicsvortex tubescomputational fluid dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Konstantin I. Matveev Jacob Leachman Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions Energies hydrogen systems cryogenics vortex tubes computational fluid dynamics |
| title | Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions |
| title_full | Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions |
| title_short | Numerical Simulations of Cryogenic Hydrogen Cooling in Vortex Tubes with Smooth Transitions |
| title_sort | numerical simulations of cryogenic hydrogen cooling in vortex tubes with smooth transitions |
| topic | hydrogen systems cryogenics vortex tubes computational fluid dynamics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1429 |
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