High Vacuum Ejector With Nested Ring Nozzle

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum ejectors face a compromise between achieving high vacuum levels and high volume flow rates, with multi-stage designs often requiring a large footprint and complex configurations to optimize performance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a first stage with a drive nozzle and a ring drive nozzle that accelerates compressed air to generate a drive jet and a drive ring, which is directed into an exit expansion nozzle to enhance airflow and entrainment, allowing for higher vacuum levels while maintaining a small footprint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a multi-stage ejector design is used to achieve high vacuum levels, then the vacuum level is improved, but the device complexity and footprint increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum levelVSAvoidejector configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector is divided into multiple stages with each stage having its own drive nozzle and expansion nozzle, allowing independent optimization of each stage's performance while achieving high vacuum levels through cumulative effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion nozzles are nested within the drive nozzles of subsequent stages, with each expansion nozzle positioned inside the drive nozzle of the next stage, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall footprint while maintaining multiple stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stress or pressure

If the number of stages is increased to improve vacuum level, then the vacuum level is improved, but the footprint of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum levelVSAvoidfootprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion nozzles are nested within the drive nozzles of subsequent stages, with each expansion nozzle positioned inside the drive nozzle of the next stage, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall footprint while maintaining multiple stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The ejector stages are arranged in a axial direction with nested configuration, utilizing the longitudinal dimension rather than expanding radially, thereby achieving multiple stages without increasing the footprint

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If nozzles are tailored to produce high-volume flow rate, then the volume flow rate is improved, but the negative pressure is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume flow rateVSAvoidnegative pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector is divided into multiple stages with each stage having its own drive nozzle and expansion nozzle, allowing independent optimization of each stage's performance while achieving high vacuum levels through cumulative effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzles are designed with specific geometric parameters (converging and diverging sections) that optimize the balance between flow rate and pressure differential for each stage, with the overall system achieving both high volume flow rate and high negative pressure through multi-stage cumulative effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables the generation of high vacuum levels with improved airflow efficiency and reduced size, addressing the need for compact, high-performance vacuum ejectors.

Implementation Method 1

accelerating the high pressure air through a drive nozzle and ejecting it as an air jet at high-speed across a gap between the drive nozzle and an outlet flow passage or nozzle. Fluid medium in the surrounding space between the drive nozzle and outlet nozzle is entrained into the high-speed flow of compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEntrainment: Entrainment

Implementation Method 2

The drive nozzle is for generating a drive jet of air from a flow of compressed air and directing the drive jet of air into a first stage expansion nozzle in order to entrain air in a volume surrounding the drive jet of air into the jet flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP3163093B1High vacuum ejector
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 PIAB
  • EP3163093B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3163093B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3163093B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An ejector for generating a vacuum comprises a drive nozzle (120) and a ring drive nozzle (140). The drive nozzle (120) is for generating a drive jet of air from a flow of compressed air and directing the drive jet of air into a first section expansion nozzle (130) in order to entrain air in a volume surrounding the drive jet of air into the jet flow to generate a vacuum across the first section. The ring drive nozzle (140) is for generating a drive ring of air from the flow of compressed air and directing the drive ring of air onto the jet flow and the entrained air, and into an inlet of a second section expansion nozzle (150).