Concentric Fluid Eductor with Annular Jets for Compact Entrainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid eductors fail to fully entrain suction fluid flow and often require large mixing tubes, making them unsuitable for applications with limited space, particularly in turbomachine engine and heat exchange systems where improved fluid entrainment and heat exchange are needed.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a concentric eductor space with multiple annular eductor spaces and Coanda surfaces to enhance fluid entrainment, using a motive fluid annulus and cap configuration that directs motive fluid to annular jets to accelerate both peripheral and core regions of the suction fluid flow within a tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fluid eductors are used to eject motive fluid into suction fluid flow, then some entrainment of suction fluid is achieved, but full entrainment is not achieved and the mixing tube dimensions become too large for space-limited applications
Solution Approach 1:
The eductor device is segmented into multiple functional zones: a nozzle section for motive fluid injection, a mixing section with specific geometry for fluid interaction, and a diffuser section for pressure recovery. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently, achieving full entrainment in a compact configuration rather than requiring a single large mixing tube
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes critical geometric parameters including the nozzle-to-mixing tube diameter ratio, mixing tube length-to-diameter ratio, and diffuser angle to achieve maximum entrainment efficiency in a compact volume. By carefully controlling these parameters, the device achieves complete suction fluid entrainment without requiring oversized dimensions
2Productivity
If mixing tube length to diameter ratio is increased to 6:1 or greater for adequate entrainment, then fluid mixing is improved, but the eductor becomes infeasible for applications with limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tube incorporates a tapered or diffuser geometry that dynamically expands the flow area along its length, allowing efficient mixing to occur over a shorter axial distance. This dynamic geometric variation optimizes fluid interaction without requiring a long straight tube
Solution Approach 2:
The eductor utilizes three-dimensional flow patterns and radial mixing components that enable effective fluid entrainment and mixing in multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously, reducing the required axial length compared to conventional one-dimensional mixing approaches
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves the entrainment and mixing of suction fluid flow, allowing for more efficient heat exchange and fluid acceleration, even in space-constrained applications, by utilizing a compact fluid eductor system that effectively accelerates both peripheral and core regions of the suction fluid.
Implementation Method 1
The higher velocity of the motive fluid decreases local static pressure in the suction fluid flow, which causes the motive fluid to entrain and accelerate nearby suction fluid
Implementation Method 2
The motive fluid entrains some of the surrounding suction fluid, thereby accelerating the suction fluid flow
Implementation Method 3
The first Coanda surface may define at least a portion of the first annular eductor space, and/or the second Coanda surface may define at least a portion of the second annular eductor space
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides fluid eductors, systems that utilize fluid eductors, and methods of entraining a suction fluid flow using a fluid eductor. Exemplary fluid eductors include a concentric eductor space or a plurality of annular eductor spaces. Exemplary methods include ejecting a volume of motive fluid out of a concentric eductor space of a fluid eductor, accelerating a peripheral region of the suction fluid flow with the motive fluid ejecting out of the first annular eductor space, and accelerating a core region of the suction fluid flow with the motive fluid ejecting out of the second annular eductor space.