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Article

Numerical Analysis of Steam Ejector Performance with Non-Equilibrium Condensation for Refrigeration Applications

1
Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401120, China
2
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
3
Chongqing Jida Environmental Engineering Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing 405299, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071672
Submission received: 7 June 2023 / Revised: 24 June 2023 / Accepted: 27 June 2023 / Published: 29 June 2023

Abstract

In recent years, there has been great interest in developing cooling systems with humidity- and temperature-independent control capabilities that can operate efficiently at varying temperatures. This paper proposes a bi-loop double-evaporator ejection–compression cycle, which utilizes low-grade heat and is suitable for the construction industry. The proposed cycle involves the concurrent operation of a vapor compression cycle and an ejector refrigeration cycle that enables it to handle altered pressure levels and operate with varying compression ratios all the way to a common condenser pressure. Conventional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches often model steam as an ideal gas with single-phase flow. In contrast, this research employs the wet steam model to optimize ejector geometry. The wet steam model takes into account non-equilibrium water vapor condensation, thus providing a more precise assessment of spontaneous condensation behavior and its impact on ejector performance. When compared to the conventional dry gas model, the use of the wet steam model dramatically decreases the entrainment ratio error from 16.24% for single-phase steam to 3.92% when compared to experimental data. This study concentrates on four critical attributes of wet steam, including Mach number, droplet nucleation rate, average droplet radius, and liquid mass fraction, to develop a strategy for enhancing ejector performance and efficiency. The study demonstrates that optimal area and primary nozzle diameter ratios for the steam ejector are 5 and 2.4, respectively. Increasing the area ratio mitigates condensation intensity, thereby reducing the liquid mass fraction in the diffuser. Overall, this paper provides valuable insights into improving and optimizing ejector performance, thus highlighting the importance of considering the behavior of spontaneous condensation in ejector design and modeling.
Keywords: ejection-compression refrigeration cycle; wet steam ejector; non-equilibrium condensation; ejector geometry optimization ejection-compression refrigeration cycle; wet steam ejector; non-equilibrium condensation; ejector geometry optimization

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MDPI and ACS Style

Lei, Y.; Li, S.; Lu, J.; Xu, Y.; Yong, Y.; Xing, D. Numerical Analysis of Steam Ejector Performance with Non-Equilibrium Condensation for Refrigeration Applications. Buildings 2023, 13, 1672. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071672

AMA Style

Lei Y, Li S, Lu J, Xu Y, Yong Y, Xing D. Numerical Analysis of Steam Ejector Performance with Non-Equilibrium Condensation for Refrigeration Applications. Buildings. 2023; 13(7):1672. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071672

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lei, Yu, Shengyu Li, Jun Lu, Ye Xu, Yong Yong, and Dingding Xing. 2023. "Numerical Analysis of Steam Ejector Performance with Non-Equilibrium Condensation for Refrigeration Applications" Buildings 13, no. 7: 1672. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071672

APA Style

Lei, Y., Li, S., Lu, J., Xu, Y., Yong, Y., & Xing, D. (2023). Numerical Analysis of Steam Ejector Performance with Non-Equilibrium Condensation for Refrigeration Applications. Buildings, 13(7), 1672. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071672

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