Vortex Tube

[billg2911]

Hi all, I came across this and was wondering if anyboby ever tryed it. I have a small compressor and i though a streem of cold air on a heatsink would cool better then a fan

So what do ya think will it work??

here the link

http://www.artxltd.com/vortex/principle.shtml

[nitan]

looks interesting...how much will the tube itself cost???...wud be fun to try out...

nitan:)

[Player0]

Ive looked in to these before. They are WAY loud though. So is the compressor. Your looking at $300-$500 easy for a kit.

[Mr Evil]

I've seen them worling too, and I can confirm that they are indeed thunderous.

I have considered attempting the same thing using water, but there is no information on whether it would work with a liquid instead of a gas.

[Player0]

Well its basically a function of forming a low pressure zone. This would cool the water. Of course with a liquid there is much more friction, especially water friction, and you would need a much more expensive pump, and you would probably end up with a jet of water that would cut through metal or something.

Its a neat technology, I would love to see a computer cooler based on it. Just not sure its very practical.

[billg2911]

here is what i found out, cold gun price $120 USD, The Cold Gun incorporates a vortex tube to convert an ordinary supply of compressed air into two low pressure streams, one hot and one cold,The Cold Gun Aircoolant System produces a stream of clean cold air at 50°F (28°C) below supply air temperature Quiet (now only 72 dBA!)

[RaNGeR.GaV]

hmmmmm 72dba? sheesh ...that would be over twice as loud as an out-of-the-obx Vapochill ... althought they are very quiet.

[billg2911]

I was just checking out my air compressor, its a sears 30 gallon tank 150 max psi the air comming out is cool allready so if its at room temp say 70F the outlet of the gun would be 20F, I was thinking of cooling the whole inside of the case, but would i get condensation??

[Mr Evil]

If you're careful then no. Condendsation will occur only where the air is decreasing in temperature. This happens when the air expands after exiting the compressor. At this point water will condense and may spit out in small droplets. This problem can be overcome by making sure the air travels far enough before entering the case that all of this water has settled.

Since all of the air within the case will already have most of the water wrung out of it, there will be no danger of condensation forming inside. I'm not sure if the temperature would be low enough for condensation to form on the outside of the case, but I don't think it would be a problem.

[billg2911]

OK, my compressor is in the basement so i would have to run about 100 feet of hose to the case i might give this a go

[nitan]

SWEET :D:D:D:D:D let us know how it goes....this is interesting stuff...

nitan:)

[Mr Evil]

The air in the hose will still be compressed, so it will drop in temperature where it leaves the hose. You need a sort of expansion chamber where the air can expand and cool before it enters the case.