Advanced exergy analysis of a CO2 two-phase ejector

Abstract

Ejector is meaningful and valuable to improve the transcritical CO2 refrigeration system. To study in-depth on the exergy destruction is significant for the performance enhancement of CO2 ejector. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation on the exergetic performance of CO2 two-phase ejector using conventional and advanced exergy analysis method to explore the interactions among ejector components and their improvement potential. The effects of primary flow pressure, suction flow temperature and area ratio (motive nozzle throat area to mixing chamber area) on the ejector exergy destruction are discussed. The results indicate the largest exergy destruction in the ejector is caused by the mixing chamber, followed by the motive nozzle, diffuser and suction chamber. Based on the avoidable exergy destruction rate and exergy destruction proportion, the order of optimization potential for ejector components is motive nozzle, diffuser, mixing chamber and suction chamber. However, the sum of avoidable exergy destruction of mixing chamber is the largest, which has the highest priority for improvement of overall ejector performance. The exogenous exergy destructions of the mixing chamber and diffuser are largely caused by the motive nozzle, and the exergy destructions would be increased with the improvement of motive nozzle performance. There exists an optimal primary flow pressure 9.5 MPa to minimize the exergy destruction of the each component of the ejector. To reduce the suction flow temperature and the ejector area ratio can decrease the avoidable exergy destruction of the components. Moreover, the variation of operating parameter has no effect on the optimization sequence of the overall ejector and its components. This work would provide a helpful way to guide the optimization on the ejector efficiency.