The poor coefficient of performance found in the thermodynamic chapter and the necessity for significant pressure ratios make the RHVT not very attractive for a standard cooling device. For such applications, coolers based on standard vapour compression cycles are far more competitive.

Paul Dirac proposed the vortex tube for isotope separation. This proposal leads to the Helikon vortex separation process used by The Uranium Enrichment Corporation of South Africa to separate Uranium isotopes. However, the low level of efficiency led to the project being discontinued.

Some authors report on the separation of gases using vortex tubes. But here too, the low level of efficiency means that this technology is not used in practise.

Still, there are special applications, less susceptible to the coefficient of performance in which other features are more important. In the case of the cooling of milling tools, the application of a vapour compression cycle is not really feasible and the RHVT does a very good job since it is robust and allows very efficient spot cooling.

Other applications might wait to be discovered. For instance, if spot cooling is needed in special corrosive environments, compressed nitrogen, carbon dioxide or argon as working gases in a RHVT can provide a good solution. Using medically clean working gases might be a solution for medical applications that require a sterile environment.