Compressed air enters at point (A). Inside the tube the compressed air is made to spin using a “generator”. It travels in one direction along the small (hot end) tube and then back inside itself in the reverse direction creating one stream of air (B) and the second stream of air (C) in the opposite direction. The outside stream of air gets hot and exhausts at point (D). The centre column of air gets cold and exists at point (E). Temperatures and capacities can vary by adjusting the hot end plug at (D) and by using different “generators”.

Vortex Tubes - Frigid-X™ are constructed of stainless steel and use a generator and valve made of brass and sealed with viton o-rings to allow their use in the widest range of environments. Others use plastic generators and standard Buna N O-Rings and charge extra for brass and viton. The unique design and quality of materials used in Frigid-X™ vortex tubes will deliver years of maintenance-free operation.

Compressed air, typically at 80-to 100 PSlG enters from the side at a tangent and enters through the generator into the vortex tube, causing the air to spin. This air stream spins toward the hot end where some leaves the vortex tube via the control valve. The remaining, spinning air travels back up the center of the tube. The inner spinning stream gives off heat energy to the outer stream (which leaves at the hot end as hot air) and exits at the cold end as cooled air. The input air is literally split into hot and cold using no moving parts.

Adjusting the slotted valve at the hot air outlet sets the flow rate and temperature at the cold end. The more air let out at the hot end reduces the cold air flowing and the cold air temperature at the cold end. Close the valve at the hot end and you increase the cold air flow at the cold end as well as the air temperature at the cold end. The percentage of total input air to the vortex tube that is directed to the cold end is the "cold fraction". A cold fraction of 60% to 80% produces the optimum refrigeration. See the chart below which indicates the temperature "rise" at the hot end and temperature "drop" at the cold end of a vortex tube at various input pressures and "cold Fraction" setting.

Most industrial applications, such as electrical control panel cooling, parts cooling, tool cooling require maximum refrigeration and utilize the Nex Flow™ Frigid-X™ 50000H series vortex tubes. Applications which require extreme cold temperatures such as lab sample cooling, circuit board testing, would utilize the Nex Flow™ Frigid-X™ 50000C series vortex tubes. However, mufflers are available for both the cold and hot ends if required.