Not a day goes by that we don’t receive a call from a customer that is having trouble identifying an EXAIR part. Due to the robust nature of our Vortex Tubes, they can be installed in applications for many years without any maintenance. When the time comes to expand that line, the labels may have worn off, the unit may be covered in grime or oil, or the personnel that originally ordered the product may no longer be with the company. In any case, one of the Application Engineers here at EXAIR will certainly be able to help!

I recently received an e-mail from a gentleman who was suffering from that very problem. They had a Vortex Tube installed in a camera cooling application near a boiler.  The engineer who designed the project was no longer with the company, and they could not determine a Model number or when they had purchased it. They saw the EXAIR sticker, along with our contact information, and reached out for help.

The Vortex Tubes come in different sizes based on the available compressed air supply as well as the level of refrigeration needed. We have Vortex Tubes for max refrigeration that contain our “R” style generators, as well as Vortex Tubes for a maximum cold temperature (cryogenic applications) that contain our “C” style generators. In addition to our standard Vortex Tubes, we also offer models for High Temperature applications. In order to identify the style, you must remove the muffler or cold cap to access the generator installed inside. All standard Vortex Tubes will have a white plastic generator, all High Temperature models will have a brass generator installed inside. While we do include a small circular label that indicates the required SCFM at 100 PSIG, we still must know if it’s a maximum cold temperature or maximum refrigeration style of tube.

Included on the generator there will be a stamp that indicates the cooling capacity and air consumption of the tube. In this case, a plastic generator was found inside stamped with “30-R”. This tells us that it’s a Model 3230.

If you’re considering expanding a current line into other parts of your facility, or perhaps expanding to a new location and need help identifying your EXAIR products; give an Application Engineer a call and we’ll be sure you get the right products on order!

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

E-mail: tylerdaniel@exair.com