Jet Ejector Reaction Zones for Vacuum and Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jet ejectors are limited by the vapor pressure of the working fluid, leading to restricted vacuum strength and safety concerns in reactive systems, particularly in pipe reactors where temperature and pressure control are critical for safe and complete chemical reactions.

Innovation Solution

A jet ejector arrangement with an internal nozzle and hollow tube design, featuring a feed line external to the ejector, allows for recirculation of unreacted motive and additional fluids, maintaining temperature control and optimizing reaction efficiency by using suction to buffer temperature fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a liquid is used as the working fluid in a jet ejector, then the system is compact and simple, but the vacuum strength is limited by the vapor pressure of the liquid

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem compactnessVSAvoidvacuum strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the working fluid from liquid to gas, thereby eliminating the vapor pressure limitation that constrains vacuum strength in liquid-based ejectors. This parameter change allows the system to achieve stronger vacuum while maintaining the compact jet ejector design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the reaction is carried out under pressure in a pipe reactor, then the reaction efficiency is improved, but the temperature control becomes difficult and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature control safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reaction system into multiple jet ejectors operating in series, where each ejector handles a portion of the reaction. This segmentation allows better control of temperature and pressure in each stage, improving overall safety while maintaining reaction efficiency through the cumulative effect of multiple controlled stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses gas-phase fluid dynamics in jet ejectors to drive reactions, replacing traditional liquid-phase high-pressure systems. The pneumatic operation of jet ejectors provides inherent safety advantages by operating at lower pressures while maintaining reaction efficiency through high-velocity gas flow and mixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If the concentration of acid or temperature is increased to improve reaction rate, then the reaction speed increases, but the safety temperature limit is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction speedVSAvoidsafety temperature limit
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic or staged reaction steps through multiple jet ejectors, where reactions occur in discrete stages rather than continuously in a single high-temperature environment. This allows the system to achieve complete reaction through cumulative effect while keeping the temperature in each stage below the safety limit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

The design ensures safe and complete chemical reactions within safe temperature and pressure limits, enhancing reaction yield and safety by preventing hot spots and minimizing pressure build-up, while reducing system footprint and improving mixing efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

An ejector is a type of vacuum pump, which produces vacuum by means of the Venturi effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 2

The fluid leaving the jet is flowing at a high velocity which due to Bernoulli's principle results in it having an underpressure, thus generating a vacuum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli's principle: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 3

the ejector generates a suction zone outside the ejector via the opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4448973B1Jet ejector arrangement, system and use thereof and method for operating the same
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 YARA INTERNATIONAL ASA
  • EP4448973B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4448973B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4448973B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a jet ejector arrangement (1), comprising a jet ejector (2), comprising an internal nozzle (3) having a base (4) and a tip (5) and, on a common longitudinal axis, an inlet (6) for a motive fluid (10) at the base (4) and an outlet (7) for the accelerated motive fluid at the tip (5); a hollow tube (8) having a base (9) and surrounding the internal nozzle (3), such that the base (9) of the hollow tube (8) surrounds the base (4) of the nozzle (3), and extending downstream the tip (5) such that the chemical components inside the hollow tube (8) reside in the hollow tube (8) for 0.1 to 5 seconds, wherein the flow direction in the hollow tube (8) is defined by the flow direction of the motive fluid (10), for mixing and reacting the motive fluid (10) with an additional fluid feed in a reaction zone (11) in the hollow tube (8), thereby providing a reacted fluid; and an opening (12) in the wall of the hollow tube (8) for entry of the additional fluid feed. The arrangement is characterised in that it further comprises a feed line (15) for the additional fluid, external to the jet ejector, of which the feed output end is freely located in the vicinity of the opening (12). The present disclosure further relates to a system comprising the jet ejector arrangement (1) of the disclosure. The present disclosure further relates to a method for reacting two fluids in the system of the disclosure and to uses of the system of the disclosure.