A novel design, implementation and performance evaluation of the first electronic expansion ejector for energy saving of a mini split air conditioner controlled by inverter

Abstract

Due to the global warming impact, which has resulted in rising energy costs, it has become vital to adopt energy-efficient air conditioners and improve their performance at a low power consumption rate, which is considered a big challenge. Ejectors have received much attention over the last decade because of their simplicity, cheap maintenance, high operating capacity, low-temperature handling, no risk of blockage, and longer lifespan at reduced costs. For the first time in the current study, a novel electronic ejector as an expansion device is designed and implemented in conjunction with a mini-split air conditioner that uses the refrigerant R-410A and is controlled by an inverter.The effects of several design and operation factors, such as primary nozzle diameter, primary nozzle length, mixing throttle diameter, capillary tube diameter, capillary tube length, air average velocity, external air temperature, and conditioned space thermal load, are also considered. The study aims to investigate the system performance by integrating a new electronic ejector technology that may be used as an expansion device in conjunction with an inverter-controlled air conditioner. According to the findings, the electronic ejector has a greater COP and saves more energy than the electronic expansion device. Dimensionless correlations of COP and EER incorporating the experimental results are also obtained.