Numerical investigation for the supersonic steam jetting flow in the thermal vapor compressor

Abstract

ABSTRACT The thermal vapor compressor (TVC) is an essential part that governs the overall process in the multiple-effect distillation––TVC system. The supersonic steam jetting flow always occurs in the TVC equipment, and the flow in the TVC is very complex due to the strong compressibility, non-equilibrium phase change, and supersonic turbulent flow of the stream. So, to improve the performance of an ejector system, an investigation of the characteristics for the high speed flow inside the ejector is often required. In the present study, the supersonic steam jetting flow with non-equilibrium phase change and condensation shock was numerically studied based on the computational fluid dynamics method. A conservative compressible numerical model coupling with non-isothermal classical nucleation model and droplet growth model, in which the thermodynamic state and properties of steam was calculated by the Virial Equations, was developed and used to predict the supersonic non-equilibrium jetting flow. The effec...