Skip to main content
Log in

The vortex tube and the tornado

  • Published:
Geofisica pura e applicata Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

When votex flow is induced in a stream of gas, as in the Ranque-Hilsch tube, the temperature of the axial portion of the vortex is lowered while the temperature of the peripheral portion is raised. The principle of conservation of angular momentum appears to control the conversion of hat to mechanical energy. A similar mechanism may account for some characteristics of tornadoes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Industrial Edition V. 38, No. 5, p. 5, 1946; Fortune, Dec. 1946, p. 180; Popular Science, May 1947, p. 144.

  2. Blaber, M. P., Jur. Sci. Instr. 27, 168 (1950);Heffner F. R., American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers Journal, Sept. 1959, p. 44;Hilsch R., Rev. Sci. Instr. 18, 108 (1947);Ioanid T.: (Energetics Institute, Bucharest, Roumania), &Merkilov A. P. (Kuibyshev Aviation Institute, Kuibyshev, Russia) have reported cooling to −70°C or −80°C, using input pressures up to 8 atmospheres (private communication);Johnson A. F., Canadian Journal of Research, Section F, Sept. 1947, p. 299;Kassner R. & Knoernschild E.,Friction Laws and Energy Tranfers in Circular Flow, Technical Report, No. F-TR-2198-ND, GS-USAF Wright Patterson Air Force Base No. 78. Project No. LP-259. March 1948;Wenig H. G., Doctoral ThesisThe Ranque-Hilsch Effect in a Vortex Tube, New York University, New York, N.Y., May 1952;Lay J. E., Journal for Heat Transfer August 1959, pp. 202–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Vonegut B., Rev. Sci. Instr. 21, 136 (1950).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tepper M., Scientific American, May 1958, p. 31.

  5. Vonnegut B., Journal of Geophysical Research 65, 203 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brooks E. M.,Compendium of Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 1951, p. 673.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Beebe R. G., Bulletin American Meteorological Society 40, 109 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lee J. F. &Sears F. W.,Thermodynamics, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Cambridge 42 Mass., 1955, p. 107.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Katz, R. The vortex tube and the tornado. Geofisica Pura e Applicata 47, 191–194 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01992495

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01992495

Keywords

Navigation