Analytical and Numerical Studies of a Steam Ejector on the Effect of Nozzle Exit Position and Suction Chamber Angle to Fluid Flow and System Performance

Nozzle exit position [NXP] plays a vital role in the performance of the ejector, but its values are specified in a range for the required operating condition. In this study instead of the range of values, a specific value, named as entrainment diameter is developed and its effect on the performance of the ejector is studied for several combinations of suction chamber angle using numerical method. The effect of the condenser and boiler pressures on the performance of the ejector are also studied to ensure the off-design operating conditions. The entrainment diameter of an ejector is derived analytically by solving one dimensional compressible fluid flow equations using MATLAB. To study the effect of entrainment diameter on the performance of the ejector, CFD technique is employed. Analytical and numerical results are validated with experimental data available in the previous studies. For 7 kW refrigeration capacity, it is inferred that the suction chamber angle of 18° and the corresponding entrainment diameter 90.8 mm with the NXP of 23.62 mm yield the maximum entrainment ratio. The study predicts that the performance of the ejector is highly influenced by the pressure increment at the exit of the nozzle, while the suction chamber angle is between 12° to 21°.