Future perspectives in ejector refrigeration

Abstract

Ejector chillers may represent a competitor for absorption chillers, as soon as their cost per unit cooling power becomes equal or lower. This target is not far from our present achievements. If input energy is waste or renewable heat, the system operating cost is mainly due to the investment in heat exchangers. Therefore, a cost reduction requires an increase of COP. This latter may be improved by a careful design of the ejector, which requires a deep insight into the thermodynamics and fluid-dynamics of its complex physics. The tools and the knowledge for an advanced design are already available and the improvement potential is significant.