Statistical Assessment of Counterflow Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube Performance

Abstract

The vortex tube, which consists of a simple tube, is a device that can simultaneously heat and cool thanks to environmentally friendly pressurized fluids (air, oxygen, nitrogen, etc.). Many studies have been included in the literature to evaluate the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex tube's performance and to reveal influential factors. Variance analysis, linear regression analysis, and the Taguchi method are primarily used in practice. This study aimed to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the factorial experimental design and Taguchi orthogonal array design in the statistical evaluation of the factors affecting the heat exchange of the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex tube. For this purpose, a detailed theory was created for the appropriate factorial ANOVA model to the data set (4 × 5 × 12 = 240 experiments) containing the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex tube and effective material type (polyamide, steel, brass, and aluminum), nozzle number (2,3,4,5 and 6), and input pressure parameters (1,5-7 bar). Following the factorial ANOVA solution, including all binary interactions, the findings were obtained according to the most suitable L16 Taguchi Orthogonal array, considering the four levels for each material, nozzle, and pressure. As a result of the ANOVA, all parameters were statistically significant on heat change (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the pressure was obtained as the only statistically significant factor according to the Taguchi analysis (F = 35.17, p = 0.008). The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods were compared regarding the test findings and graphical performances.