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Optimized mixing chamber length and diameter of a steam ejector for the application of gas turbine power plant: a computational approach

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Abstract

Ejector is a simple device which is used in gas turbine and steam power plants. It is used to pump or compress a low-pressure fluid with the help of a high-pressure fluid without any moving parts. The performance of an ejector is a function of entrainment ratio (ω) and pressure lift ratio (rp). The work aims to perform a parametric study and propose the optimized geometry parameters of a steam ejector, such as mixing chamber length (Lm) and diameter (Dm), for getting maximum ω and rp. A 3D turbulent model was developed to investigate these geometry parameters. Realizable k–ε turbulence model was chosen for considering the turbulence effects. Lm was varied from 0.6 to 1.2 m and Dm from 0.1 to 0.14 m. Mach number, temperature, pressure and density profiles inside the steam ejector were estimated and analyzed. It was found that Lm has shown less influence on ω and rp. A minimum Lm of 1 m was required to get a uniform, non-fluctuated and symmetric profile of Mach number, temperature, pressure and density inside the system, especially at the diffuser section. Dm has shown a significant effect on ω, and it increased from 1.12 to 1.64 when Dm was varied from 0.1 to 0.13 m. Any further increase in Dm caused a decrease in ω. From the parametric study, it is concluded that Lm and Dm of 1 m and 0.13 m, respectively, gave a better flow uniformity, non-fluctuated flow and maximum ω.

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Abbreviations

NXP:

Nozzle exit position

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

COP:

Coefficient of performance

A t :

Area of nozzle throat (m2)

C :

Specific heat (J kg−1 K−1)

D m :

Diameter of mixing chamber (m)

D t :

Diameter of nozzle throat (m)

k :

Thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

L m :

Length of mixing chamber (m)

M :

Mach number

m :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

p :

Pressure (bar)

R:

Gas constant (J kg−1 K−1)

r p :

Pressure ratio

T :

Temperature (K)

u :

Velocity (m s−1)

μ t :

Turbulent viscosity (m2 s−1)

p:

Primary fluid

s:

Secondary fluid

t:

Nozzle throat

1:

Nozzle exit

2:

Diffuser exit

m:

Mixing chamber

ω :

Entrainment ratio

θ :

Suction chamber convergence angle (°)

µ :

Dynamic viscosity (kg m−1 s−1)

ρ :

Density (kg m−3)

ε :

Rate of dissipation of turbulent energy (m2 s−3)

γ :

Ratio of specific heats

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the working environment provided by GE India Industrial Private Limited, Bangalore, India-560066, under the Internship program given to the first author of the manuscript (Ref: Mail dated 17th April 2019). The authors also acknowledge the support received by way of proofreading from Dr. M. Raja Vishwanathan, Assistant Professor, Humanities and Social Science Department, NIT Warangal, India.

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  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, Telangana, 506004, India

    Venkatesh Kakkirala & Chandramohan Velayudhan Parvathy

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Correspondence to Chandramohan Velayudhan Parvathy.

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Kakkirala, V., Velayudhan Parvathy, C. Optimized mixing chamber length and diameter of a steam ejector for the application of gas turbine power plant: a computational approach. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 8881–8894 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-11190-7

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