A two-stage refrigeration and power producing arrangement consisting of a “vortex” cooling tube and a thermoelectric stage

A refrigeration and power producing arrangement is described which consists of two stages in series and which appears to be novel. The first (lower) stage is a “vortex cooling tube” which effects the necessary cooling of the second thermolelectric stage. It is found by calculations and experiments that this combination offers considerable advantages compared to an all-thermoelectric refrigeration or power producing arrangement, in particular when cooling water is not available or is to be excluded for reasons dictated by the particular application of the unit.

Although the volume of compressed air for the operation of the vortex tube is considerable it is of minor importance for the operation of the unit as a refrigerator.

It is, however, of major importance when the application of the vortex tube to the utilization of solar energy is contemplated. This possibility is considered separately in Section 4 of the text.