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Reducing energy consumption of a steam ejector through experimental optimization of the nozzle geometry

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  • Sharifi, Navid
  • Sharifi, Majid

Abstract

Steam ejectors use pressurized vapor as the motive flow for running in steam cycles. The major parameter that affects the thermal energy consumption is the pressure of motive flow used in this device. In the current study, a malfunctioning experimental ejector is studied numerically to reveal the source of low evacuation rate from a suction chamber. This ejector was designed to operate under a motive pressure of 6 bar. However, the required vacuum in the suction vessel was not attained unless the pressure of motive steam was increased to 8 bar. The fastest and the most inexpensive way of improving the device performance was considered as replacing just the primary nozzle, with no further changes in ejector's body because, the ejector was connected to other unit facilities and hence the ejector replacement was very costly. The optimization procedure was performed through using numerical CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations. The shape of internal supersonic nozzle was changed in many CFD analyses and the most optimized nozzle was selected for manufacturing. After installing the designed nozzle, an improved entrainment capability under the nominal pressure of 6 bar was observed and the desired vacuum level was attained.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharifi, Navid & Sharifi, Majid, 2014. "Reducing energy consumption of a steam ejector through experimental optimization of the nozzle geometry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 860-867.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:860-867
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.01.055
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Besagni, Giorgio & Mereu, Riccardo & Inzoli, Fabio, 2016. "Ejector refrigeration: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 373-407.
    2. Yang, Yan & Karvounis, Nikolas & Walther, Jens Honore & Ding, Hongbing & Wen, Chuang, 2021. "Effect of area ratio of the primary nozzle on steam ejector performance considering nonequilibrium condensations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    3. Karthick, S.K. & Rao, Srisha M.V. & Jagadeesh, G. & Reddy, K.P.J., 2018. "Experimental parametric studies on the performance and mixing characteristics of a low area ratio rectangular supersonic gaseous ejector by varying the secondary flow rate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 832-845.
    4. Ariafar, Kavous & Buttsworth, David & Al-Doori, Ghassan & Malpress, Ray, 2015. "Effect of mixing on the performance of wet steam ejectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P2), pages 2030-2041.
    5. Jie Wang & Hongfang Gu, 2021. "A Study of Moist Air Condensation Characteristics in a Transonic Flow System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Han, Yu & Wang, Xiaodong & Sun, Hao & Zhang, Guangli & Guo, Lixin & Tu, Jiyuan, 2019. "CFD simulation on the boundary layer separation in the steam ejector and its influence on the pumping performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 469-483.
    7. Zheng, Ping & Li, Bing & Qin, Jingxuan, 2018. "CFD simulation of two-phase ejector performance influenced by different operation conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1129-1145.
    8. Yang, Yan & Zhu, Xiaowei & Yan, Yuying & Ding, Hongbing & Wen, Chuang, 2019. "Performance of supersonic steam ejectors considering the nonequilibrium condensation phenomenon for efficient energy utilisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 157-167.
    9. Jafarian, Ali & Azizi, Mohammad & Forghani, Pezhman, 2016. "Experimental and numerical investigation of transient phenomena in vacuum ejectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 528-536.
    10. Shan, Yong & Zhang, Jing-zhou & Ren, Xiao-wen, 2018. "Numerical modeling on pumping performance of piccolo-tube multi-nozzles supersonic ejector in an oil radiator passage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 216-227.
    11. Jingming Dong & Weining Wang & Zhitao Han & Hongbin Ma & Yangbo Deng & Fengmin Su & Xinxiang Pan, 2018. "Experimental Investigation of the Steam Ejector in a Single-Effect Thermal Vapor Compression Desalination System Driven by a Low-Temperature Heat Source," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, August.
    12. Expósito Carrillo, José Antonio & Sánchez de La Flor, Francisco José & Salmerón Lissén, José Manuel, 2018. "Single-phase ejector geometry optimisation by means of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm and a surrogate CFD model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 46-64.
    13. Zhang, Shaozhi & Luo, Jielin & Wang, Qin & Chen, Guangming, 2018. "Step utilization of energy with ejector in a heat driven freeze drying system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 734-744.
    14. Wang, Chen & Wang, Lei & Wang, Xinli & Zhao, Hongxia, 2017. "Design and numerical investigation of an adaptive nozzle exit position ejector in multi-effect distillation desalination system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 673-681.
    15. Zhang, Kun & Chen, Xue & Markides, Christos N. & Yang, Yong & Shen, Shengqiang, 2016. "Evaluation of ejector performance for an organic Rankine cycle combined power and cooling system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 404-412.

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