Vortec Cold Air Guns use filtered compressed air and vortex tube technology to produce sub-zero air for industrial spot cooling applications. With no moving parts to wear out, the internal vortex tube converts compressed air into a cold air stream, producing temperatures as low as -30 F. Cold Air Guns improve production, extend tool life and eliminate liquid coolant mess.

Most often used in the cooling of materials and drill bits in machining, Cold Air Guns substantially increase tool life. They improve feed rates on dry machining operations and can eliminate heat-related parts growth, all while enhancing parts tolerance and surface finish quality. Cold Air Guns have adjustable temperature and flow settings, along with a variety of nozzles from frost-free (to prevent frost and condensation) to a dual nozzle (to cool two points simultaneously).

The Cold Air Gun operates on the Vortex Tube principle. Compressed air enters the vortex tube, where a stationary generator forces the air to spin rapidly inside the tube. The air then rotates at near sonic velocity. The generator nozzles are oriented so that the air is injected tangentially to the circumference of the generation chamber. All the air leaves the generation chamber and goes into the hot tube. Centrifugal force keeps the air near the inside wall of the hot tube as it moves toward the valve at the hot end. By the time the air reaches the hot end valve, its pressure is less than the nozzle exit pressure but greater than atmospheric pressure. The remaining air is forced to the center of the hot tube, creating a counter-current flow where, still spinning, circulates back to the cold outlet. The air travels the entire length of the hot tube, through the center of the vortex generation chamber and to the cold outlet. The heated outer stream is muffled to reduce noise level and exhausted safely out of the Cold Air Gun. The temperature and flow rate of the cold air stream is user-adjustable by adjusting a knob on the end of the instrument.

Vortec’s in-house applications engineers are always ready to discuss your application and help you through the product selection process. They can be reached at sales@vortec.com.