Vortex Tube

thingiverse

I built this just to see if one of these devices can work without much knowledge of their ideal dimensions. Vortex tubes are devises which produce hot and cold air from compressed air. Machinists occasionally use vortex tubes to cool items down as low as -50°C. I was able to get temperatures 25°C colder than ambient temperature with an air pressure of 6bar. Printer Settings Printer: Prusa i3 Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.3mm Infill: 50-100% Notes: Extra perimeters and high infill ratio are needed to make it airtight and prevent it from exploding because of the high pressure used. How to Use Glue the nozzle and intake tube with a diameter of 6.5-7mm in place with some epoxy or superglue. Apply some compressed air to the inlet pipe while closing the hot end holes with some tape. The hot end gap is just right when there's just a slight breeze coming from the cold end nozzle. Be careful when using for the first time, as there's a chance that the device could blow apart. I tested mine at 6bar pressure, but it should withstand up to 10bar pressures. The ideal pressure might be quite low.