Ejector with two induced flows
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-04
AI Technical Summary
Conventional ejectors have low efficiency and are bulky due to their design, which restricts their ability to create suction depression only on the periphery of the high-pressure flow, and are costly and time-consuming to manufacture due to traditional machining methods.
A new type of ejector design featuring a rectilinear nozzle with an internal conduit and injection conduits that create an annular jet, allowing for suction depression in both the central and peripheral parts of the high-pressure flow, and manufactured using additive manufacturing to reduce size, mass, and assembly complexity.
The design optimizes induced flow by creating two useful surfaces for suction, improving performance and reducing the need for a bulky feed pump, while additive manufacturing simplifies production, reduces costs, and accelerates manufacturing time by 50%.
Smart Images
Figure FR2024050529_31102024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
DESCRIPTION TITLE: Double-flow induced ejector TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of venturi effect pumps, also called ejector pumps, or more simply ejectors.
[0002] The present invention relates to a new type of ejector, in particular for aircraft. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Ejectors are static devices in which the energy provided by the acceleration of a pressurized fluid is used to suck, compress and / or mix fluids, for example for fuel circulation, fuel transfer between tanks, engine supply, liquid mixing, fluid drawing, etc.
[0004] In an aircraft, ejectors can be used, among other things, to supercharge small engines with fuel or to draw fuel from remote fuel tanks and discharge the fuel into a tank containing main fuel pumps.
[0005] As shown in [Fig. 1] as a longitudinal sectional view, an ejector 1' according to the prior art conventionally comprises a substantially tubular ejector body 2', an upstream part of which is equipped with a nozzle 3' opening into a funnel-shaped receiving groove 4' of the ejector body 2', upstream of a narrowing d of the ejector body 2' forming a mixing chamber 5'.
[0006] Downstream, the mixing chamber 5' then widens into a diffusion cone 6' ending in an outlet opening 7'.
[0007] An upstream portion of the nozzle 3' is usually connected to a high-pressure fluid source, such as a pump, while a downstream portion of the nozzle 3' is usually coaxial with the ejector body 2' and has a nozzle-shaped nozzle outlet 8'.
[0008] The upstream part of the ejector 2' is also equipped with a suction opening 9' in fluid communication with the receiving throat 4'.
[0009] When a high pressure flow exiting through the nozzle 8' passes through the receiving throat 4', it creates a suction which entrains the fluid present in the vicinity of the suction opening 9' and generates an induced flow of fluid by the Venturi effect, which passes around the nozzle 3', to return the fluid to the level of the outlet opening T of the ejector 1'.
[0010] The overall efficiency of ejectors is low compared to electric motor pumps, but they are frequently used due to their very long life, high reliability and low cost.
[0011] Indeed, in fuel systems, ejectors have no moving parts and therefore represent a very reliable and inexpensive way of moving a fluid, such as fuel, in an aircraft.
[0012] Ejectors are usually manufactured using traditional machining methods and are constrained in their shape by manufacturing constraints. They are usually made of several parts that must be assembled, which results in high manufacturing cost and time.
[0013] Their current design allows for the creation of a suction depression only on the periphery of the high-pressure flow exiting through the nozzle.
[0014] There is also a need to improve the efficiency of ejectors and reduce their mass and size. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention provides a solution to the problems mentioned above, by providing a new type of ejector which makes it possible to create a suction depression not only on the periphery of the high-pressure flow exiting through the nozzle, but also in the central part of the high-pressure flow exiting through the nozzle.
[0016] To this end, one aspect of the invention relates to an ejector comprising: an ejector body, in particular extending along an extension axis and forming a flow channel for a fluid, and a nozzle, in particular rectilinear, with a tubular body housed inside the ejector body, in particular inside the flow channel, and having a fluid inlet in an upstream part and a fluid outlet in a downstream part spaced from the ejector body.
[0017] More specifically, the nozzle comprises an internal conduit housed in the tubular body and radially spaced from the tubular body, a downstream end of the internal conduit opening at the fluid outlet of the nozzle.
[0018] According to a further aspect of the invention, the ejector body and the tubular body are of a single piece.
[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the internal conduit is connected at a distance from the tubular body by at least one radial leg.
[0020] In addition, the nozzle comprises at least one injection duct, housed in the tubular body upstream of the internal duct and having: a first end opening at an inlet orifice provided in the tubular body, and a second end which opens at a discharge orifice provided in the internal duct upstream of the fluid outlet.
[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the injection duct extends along an injection axis inclined at an angle α relative to the extension axis of the ejector body. In particular, the angle α is between 20° and 90°.
[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the nozzle comprises an odd number of injection conduits.
[0023] Furthermore, a volume is defined between the internal conduit and the tubular body, in particular defining an annular flow passage.
[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the ejector body, the downstream portion of the tubular body and the internal conduit are coaxial.
[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the nozzle is rectilinear.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the upstream portion of the ejector has a suction opening that flares upstream.
[0027] According to a further aspect of the invention, the ejector body comprises at least: a suction opening; a suction chamber in which the nozzle is housed; a receiving groove, located at the outlet of the nozzle, with an internal diameter narrowing downstream; a mixing chamber, having a substantially regular internal diameter; a diffusion cone widening downstream; and / or an outlet opening.
[0028] A further aspect of the invention relates to a tank and / or an aircraft equipped with an ejector as described above.
[0029] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an ejector as described above, which is carried out by additive manufacturing.
[0030] The ejector of the invention advantageously makes it possible to generate an annular jet at the nozzle level in order to create two useful surfaces for creating the suction of the induced fluid.
[0031] It thus creates two induced flows, one on the periphery of the annular jet of the engine flow, the other in a central part of the jet, and thus optimizes the induced flow.
[0032] The force of the engine flow is therefore used optimally, which improves the performance of the ejector and in particular makes it possible to feed the ejector with a less bulky and less heavy feed pump.
[0033] Additive manufacturing advantageously makes it possible to produce the complex shapes of the ejector according to the invention and to manufacture it in a single piece, which eliminates assembly operations.
[0034] This optimizes the size, weight, and manufacturing constraints of the ejector. The weight and size savings are approximately 50%.
[0035] Additive manufacturing also simplifies the design and manufacturing of the ejector, making it possible to fulfill an order for a new ejector much more quickly and at a lower cost.
[0036] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0037] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention in which: [Fig. 1] is a longitudinal sectional view of an ejector according to the prior art; [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of an ejector according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; [Fig. 3] is a longitudinal sectional view of the ejector of [Fig. 2]; [Fig. 4] is a detail view of a framed portion of the ejector of [Fig. 3]; [Fig. 5] is a cross-sectional view of the ejector of [Fig. 2]; [Fig. 6] is a view of the upstream face of the ejector of [Fig. 2]; [Fig. 7] is a view of the downstream face of the ejector of [Fig. 2]; [Fig. 8] is a 3 / 4 upstream perspective view of the ejector of [Fig. 2]; [Fig. 9] is a perspective view of the volume occupied by a fluid in a nozzle of the ejector of [Fig. 2]; and [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of the volume occupied by a fluid in the nozzle of the ejector of [Fig. 2], DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Conventionally, the term "upstream" refers to an element located before a point considered in relation to a fluid flow direction. Conversely, the term "downstream" refers to an element located after a point considered in relation to the fluid flow direction. In the examples shown in [Fig. 1] to [Fig. 4], upstream is on the left and downstream is on the right.
[0039] Furthermore, the terms "tube" and "tubular" designate a part of revolution, that is to say a hollow cylindrical shape whose diameter can be variable.
[0040] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference and such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.
[0041] The present invention relates to an ejector 1 comprising an ejector body 2, in particular of substantially tubular shape, extending along an extension axis X and delimiting a flow channel, as shown in [Fig. 2] to [Fig. 4] which are respectively perspective views in longitudinal section and detail of the ejector 1 according to the invention.
[0042] An upstream part of the ejector body 2 has a suction opening 9, also called a tulip 9, having for example a flared shape on the upstream part.
[0043] A fluid may be sucked through the suction opening 9. The suction opening 9 may be equipped with a strainer and / or a valve, such as a check valve.
[0044] The upstream part of the ejector body 2 has a hollow volume forming a suction chamber 10 and housing a nozzle 3, capable of ensuring injection of a fluid, also called driving fluid.
[0045] The nozzle 3 comprises a tubular body 11 of which an upstream part 11a has a fluid inlet 12, intended to be connected to a source of high pressure fluid, in particular as a driving fluid.
[0046] The tubular body 11 comprises a downstream part 11b having a fluid outlet 13, in particular a working fluid outlet.
[0047] The upstream part 11a of the nozzle 3 can extend along the extension axis X of the ejector 1. In such a configuration, the nozzle 3 is then preferably rectilinear.
[0048] Alternatively or in addition, the upstream part 11 a of the nozzle 3 can extend along an axis having an angle with the extension axis X of the ejector 1, for example an angle of 90° in order to be orthogonal to the extension axis X of the ejector 1. The tubular body 11 can then have a bent part connecting the upstream part 11 a of the nozzle 3 to the downstream part 11 b of the nozzle 3.
[0049] The downstream part 11 b of the nozzle 3 is spaced from the ejector body 2 and extends along the extension axis X of the ejector 1. The fluid outlet 13 is, for example, nozzle-shaped and opens into a receiving groove 4 of the ejector body 2, having a narrowing downstream.
[0050] Downstream of the receiving groove 4, the ejector body 2 comprises a part of section 5, preferably constant, forming in particular a mixing chamber 5. Indeed, in the part of section 5, the driving fluid coming from the nozzle 3 and the sucked fluid coming from the suction opening 9 meet.
[0051] Downstream of the mixing chamber 5, the ejector body 2 preferably has a diffusion cone 6. The diffusion cone 6 comprises an open downstream end, in particular in a flared shape, forming the outlet opening 7 of the ejector 1. The outlet opening 7 may be equipped with a valve, in particular a non-return valve.
[0052] The ejector 1 according to the invention is characterized by a specific configuration of the nozzle 3.
[0053] More particularly, the nozzle 3 comprises an internal conduit 14, arranged in the tubular body 11 and spaced therefrom. A downstream end of the internal conduit 14 opens substantially at the level of the fluid outlet 13 of the nozzle 3.
[0054] Such an arrangement defines an intermediate volume 19 located between the internal conduit 14 and the tubular body 11 of the nozzle 3 creating a flow passage for the working fluid.
[0055] The intermediate volume 19 is in particular annular in shape. Indeed, according to the example presented, the intermediate volume 19 is delimited between the internal conduit 14 and the tubular body 11 of the nozzle 3, which are two concentric tubular parts.
[0056] In addition, the nozzle 3 according to the invention may also comprise a number N of injection conduit(s) 15, where N is greater than or equal to 1. In particular, the number N of injection conduit(s) 15 is less than or equal to 5.
[0057] The number N of injection conduit(s) 15 may however be greater in the case of a large ejector. Preferably, N is an odd number, in particular equal to 3 or 5.
[0058] The injection conduit 15 is housed in the tubular body 11 of the nozzle 3 upstream of the internal conduit 14.
[0059] A first end 15a of the injection conduit 15, arranged upstream, is connected to the tubular body 11 and opens at an inlet orifice 16 provided in the tubular body 11, upstream of the internal conduit 14.
[0060] According to a particular example, the tubular body 11 comprises a number M1 of intake orifice(s) 16 equal to the number N of injection conduit(s) 15.
[0061] However, according to an alternative embodiment, the tubular body 11 may comprise a number M2 of intake orifice(s) 16 less than the number N of injection conduit(s) 15, the injection conduits 15 being able to separate at least into two downstream of the intake orifice 16.
[0062] Likewise, according to another alternative embodiment, the tubular body 11 may comprise a number M3 of intake orifices 16 greater than the number N of injection conduit(s) 15, the injection conduits 15 being able to be supplied by at least two intake orifices 16.
[0063] A second end 15b of the injection duct 15, arranged downstream, opens into the internal duct 14 of the nozzle 3, at a discharge orifice 17, in particular upstream of the fluid outlet 13, preferably at the upstream end of the internal duct 14.
[0064] According to a particular example, the internal conduit 14 comprises a number P1 of discharge orifice(s) 17 equal to the number N of injection conduit(s) 15.
[0065] However, according to an alternative embodiment, the internal conduit 14 may comprise a number P2 of discharge orifice(s) 17 less than the number N of injection conduit(s) 15, at least two injection conduits 15 being able to be grouped upstream of one of the discharge orifices 17.
[0066] Likewise, according to another alternative embodiment, the internal conduit 14 may comprise a number P3 of intake orifices 16 greater than the number N of injection conduit(s) 15, the injection conduits 15 being able to separate at least into two upstream of the discharge orifices 17.
[0067] Furthermore, the injection duct 15 may be inclined relative to the extension axis X of the ejector 1. In particular, the injection duct 15 extends for example along an injection axis Y inclined at an angle of inclination α relative to the extension axis X of the ejector 1. In particular, the angle of inclination α of the injection axis Y may be between 20° and 90°.
[0068] According to one relationship mode, all the injection conduits 15 may have the same angle of inclination a relative to the extension axis X of the ejector 1. Alternatively, at least some of the injection conduits 15 may have different angles of inclination a relative to the extension axis X of the ejector 1.
[0069] The conduit 15 preferably has a circular section. In such a configuration, the intake orifice 16 may preferably have an oval section.
[0070] According to one embodiment of the invention, the ejector body 2, the downstream part 11b of the tubular body 11 and the internal conduit 14 are coaxial, preferably centered around the extension axis X of the ejector 1.
[0071] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2] to [Fig. 4], the nozzle 3 is rectilinear. Thus, the entire tubular body is coaxial with the ejector body 2 and the internal conduit 14.
[0072] [Fig. 5] to [Fig. 8] are views respectively in cross section, from the upstream face, from the downstream face and in upstream perspective of the ejector 1 according to the invention.
[0073] As can be seen in [Fig. 5] to [Fig. 8], the internal conduit 14 is preferably connected at a distance from the tubular body 11 by at least one radial paste 18.
[0074] The radial leg 18 is arranged on the circumference of the tubular body 11.
[0075] In the case of a plurality of connecting elements, the radial tabs 18 are in particular regularly angularly distributed along the circumference of the tubular body 11.
[0076] In particular, the radial legs 18 extend over an angular extension so as to leave sufficient space for fluid circulation from the suction opening 9 to the mixing chamber 5.
[0077] The ejector body 2, the tubular body 11, the internal conduit 14 and the injection conduit(s) 15 are preferably formed from a single piece. More preferably, the ejector body 2 and the set of constituent parts of the ejector 1 according to the invention are preferably manufactured in a single piece, for example by additive manufacturing.
[0078] When supplied with pressurized fluid at the fluid inlet 12 of the tubular body 11, the nozzle 3 according to the invention creates a driving flow, represented by black arrows in [Fig. 4], which passes through the tubular body 11 and emerges at the fluid outlet 13 of the tubular body 11 in a jet, in particular of annular shape, in the receiving groove 4.
[0079] The volume of the engine flow is shown in [Fig. 9]. The jet of the engine flow generates two useful surfaces which suck fluid present in the suction chamber 10, around the nozzle 3, and form two induced flows, namely: an external induced flow, located around the tubular body 11, and an internal induced flow, located inside the tubular body 11, which passes through the injection conduit(s) 15.
[0080] Such internal induced flow does not exist in earlier injectors.
[0081] The external induced flow and internal induced flow are represented by white arrows in [Fig. 4] and the volume of external induced flow and internal induced flow is represented in [Fig. 10].
[0082] The driving flow and the external induced flow and the internal induced flow mix in the mixing chamber 5 and flow beyond to the outlet opening 7.
[0083] The working fluid and the fluid to be sucked may be the same, but not necessarily the same. They may include liquids, for example fuel and / or air.
[0084] The invention also relates to an aircraft equipped with an ejector 1 according to the invention, for example in a tank, to ensure that liquid fuel is always present at the inlet of the pump supplying the engines.
Claims
CLAIMS
1. Ejector (1) comprising: - an ejector body (2), and - a nozzle (3), in particular rectilinear, with a tubular body (11) housed inside the ejector body (2) and having a fluid inlet (12) in an upstream part (11 a) and a fluid outlet (13) in a downstream part (11 b) spaced from the ejector body (2), - characterized in that the nozzle (3) comprises an internal conduit (14) housed in the tubular body (11) and radially spaced from the tubular body (11), a downstream end of the internal conduit (14) opening at the level of the fluid outlet (13) of the nozzle (3), and in that - the nozzle (3) comprises at least one injection duct (15) housed in the tubular body (11) upstream of the internal duct (14) and having: o a first end (15a) opening at an inlet orifice (16) provided in the tubular body (11), and o a second end (15b) opening at a discharge orifice (17) provided in the internal duct (14) upstream of the fluid outlet (13).
2. Ejector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ejector body (2), the tubular body (11) and the internal conduit (14) are in one piece. [Claim s] Ejector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal conduit (14) is connected at a distance from the tubular body (11) by at least one radial tab (18).
4. Ejector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the injection duct (15) extends along an injection axis (Y) inclined at an angle α relative to an extension axis (X) of the ejector body (2). [Claim s] Ejector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle (3) comprises an odd number of injection conduits (15). [Claim s] Ejector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an intermediate volume (19) is defined between the internal conduit (14) and the tubular body (11), in particular defining an annular flow passage.
7. Ejector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ejector body (2) comprises at least: - a suction opening (9); - a suction chamber (10) in which the nozzle (3) is housed; - a receiving groove (4), located at the outlet of the nozzle (3), with an internal diameter narrowing downstream; - a mixing chamber (5), having a substantially regular internal diameter; - a diffusion cone (6) widening downstream; and / or - an exit opening (7). [Claim s] Tank and / or aircraft equipped with an ejector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. Method of manufacturing an ejector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ejector (1) is produced by additive manufacturing.