Modular Ejector Insert Design for Refrigeration Pressure Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ejector refrigeration systems face inefficiencies in pressure recovery and refrigerant distribution, leading to increased power consumption and evaporator size requirements due to the need for superheated refrigerant production.
Innovation Solution
The design of an ejector with a motive nozzle and diffuser, featuring a control needle and needle guide insert, allows for adjustable flow management, enhancing pressure recovery and refrigerant distribution efficiency by modulating the flow through the motive nozzle and ejector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional ejector design is used, then the system structure is simple, but pressure recovery efficiency is poor and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector is divided into multiple functional components: a body portion, a motive nozzle insert, and a diffuser insert. Each component is separately manufactured and then assembled through brazing, allowing for optimized design of each segment while maintaining overall system performance and reducing energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The motive nozzle insert and diffuser insert are nested within the body portion of the ejector. The nozzle insert fits into the body, and the diffuser insert fits into both the body and nozzle insert, creating a compact nested structure that improves pressure recovery without significantly increasing external dimensions.
2Reliability
If superheated refrigerant production is required, then refrigeration system reliability improves, but evaporator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser insert is designed with specific geometric parameters (cross-sectional area, length, and angle) that optimize the expansion and mixing of refrigerant flows. This parameter optimization enables reliable refrigeration operation while reducing the required evaporator size by improving pressure recovery efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed geometry ejector is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to different operating conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
While the ejector components have fixed geometries, the modular insert design allows for dynamic adaptation to different operating conditions by enabling easy replacement of the nozzle and diffuser inserts with different geometric configurations optimized for specific operating ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle insert and diffuser insert are designed with specific local geometric qualities (convergence angles, throat areas, expansion ratios) that are optimized for their respective functions. These localized optimizations provide adaptability to different operating conditions while keeping the overall manufacturing process manageable.
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 reduces power consumption and evaporator size by optimizing refrigerant flow and pressure recovery, enabling improved refrigeration performance and heat transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The primary refrigerant flow enters the inlet and then passes into a convergent section of the motive nozzle. It then passes through a throat section and an expansion (divergent) section through an outlet (exit) of the motive nozzle. The motive nozzle accelerates the flow and decreases the pressure of the flow.
Implementation Method 2
The resulting combined flow is a liquid/vapor mixture and decelerates and recovers pressure in the diffuser while remaining a mixture.
Data Source
AI summary
An ejector has: a motive flow inlet; a secondary flow inlet; an outlet; a motive nozzle; a diffuser; and a control needle shiftable between a first position and a second position. The ejector comprises: an inlet body bearing the motive flow inlet and the secondary flow inlet; a diffuser body forming the diffuser and bearing the outlet; a motive nozzle insert forming the motive nozzle in a compartment in the inlet body; and a needle guide insert in the motive nozzle insert.