What Are Vortex Tubes?

Vortex tubes are devices that work on a standard compressed air supply. Air enters the vortex tube and literally splits the air flow into two parts - cold air at one end, and hot air at the other - all without any moving parts.

Vortex tubes have an adjustable valve at the "hot" end which controls the volume of the air flow, and the temperature exiting at the cold end. By adjusting the valve, you control the "cold fraction" which is the percentage of total input. Compressed air the exits the cold end of the Vortex Tube. Frigid-X™ Vortex Tubes may also be supplied with a fixed preset "cold function" instead of an adjustable valve.

Inside is the interchangeable brass "generator" which can alter the air used in the Vortex Tube, and control the temperature ranges you wish to have at the cold and hot ends. There are several ranges of generators for compressed air capacity.

There are two basic physical sizes of vortex tubes used extensively in industry the small (C Series) and medium size (H Series). A larger version is available on special order. Vortex tubes can be selected by required performance in cooling for the "H" generator versions and where very cold temperatures are required "C" generators are used. However, even with "C" generators, as expected, the higher the flow rating the greater the cooling effect.

Nex Flow™ stainless steel vortex tubes use a metal (brass) generator as a standard item rather than cheap plastic for longer life and for applications in high temperature environments. (competitors would charge extra for that feature.) With virtually no moving parts, Vortex Tubes take compressed air and converts it to cold air at one end and hot air at the other. Temperature as low as -50ºF (-46ºC) can be achieved at the cold end and up to 260º F (127ºC) at the hot end.

Vortex tubes are used to cool electronic controls, machining operations, spot cooling and more.

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