Experimental investigation and industrial application of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube

• We investigate temperature separation in high-pressure natural gas stream.
• Joule-Thomson effect has significant influence on temperature separation process.
• Ejecting type of flow reduces the efficiency of Ranque effect.
• Increasing pressure ratio will increase temperature differences.
• Cold stream temperature drop is higher than Joule-Thomson effect.

Despite long period of study, Ranque effect remains unexplored in natural gas industry. There is a lack of industrial operation data. No information was found about achieving high temperatures due to Ranque effect on natural gas plants. In present experimental research, temperature separation in high pressure natural gas stream within a counter flow vortex tube was investigated. An industrial vortex tube was designed and implemented into low-temperature separation plant. It was found that Joule-Thomson effect has significant influence on temperature separation process and should be taken into account when analyzing operation data. Noticeable heating effect under investigated conditions could be seen only at very small hot stream mass fractions. To avoid liquid loading problems free gas condensate and water should be removed before the vortex tube or directly from its body. The increase of pressure ratio leads to higher temperature differences. Cold stream temperature drop is higher than Joule-Thomson effect on almost all range of cold stream mass fractions. The ejecting type of flow was achieved in experiments that causes the reduction of Ranque effect efficiency. However, such flow could also be useful for utilization of flashed petroleum gases.