A Vortex Tube takes a pressurized input stream, most typically of a gas, and creates two output streams with a temperature differential. Apparently, it has been described as a Maxwell's Demon.
Both linked sources are scarce with information about how and why this works. Now, I have two questions:
Why does it work, specifically why should the situation in the vortex lead to a transfer of thermal energy from the inner stream to the outer one?
How efficient can it be?
How do you define the efficiency of a device that may be closer to Maxwell's Demon than to a heat pump? My feeling is that any analysis should not only take into account the sum of input energy (thermal and mechanical energy instream) and sum output (thermal energies and pressures of both gas streams), but also the Temperature differential that is created - since that contains an ability to create work.*
If course it's pointless to create heat from high grade 8mech.) energy to transform it back to mech. energy - but it gives an idea on the worth of the output.
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