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Numerical simulation of the performance of a supersonic ejector for solar refrigeration applications

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Beninese Center for Scientific Research and Innovation, Cotonou, Benin and Laboratory of Processes and Technological Innovations of Lokossa , UNSTIM, Benin
  • 2Beninese Center for Scientific Research and Innovation, Cotonou, Benin and Thermal and Energy Laboratory of Nantes ( LTeN ), UMR 6607 CNRS Nantes, France
  • 3Laboratory of Processes and Technological Innovations of Lokossa , UNSTIM, Benin
  • 4Laboratory of Processes and Technological Innovations of Lokossa , UNSTIM, Benin
  • 5Industrial Systems and Environmental Engineering Research Unit (URISIE), Bandjoun, Cameroon

Res. J. Recent Sci., Volume 14, Issue (2), Pages 18-28, April,2 (2025)

Abstract

Ejectors find use in various fields such as aerospace, propulsion and refrigeration. They are expansion devices that use the kinetic energy of a primary flow for the compression of a secondary flow. Their performance remains low, which still makes their wide market penetration difficult compared to more conventional systems. Aligning with the above-mentioned objectives, the present work addresses the evaluation of five recognized turbulence models to study supersonic ejectors on a refrigeration system operating with R134a refrigerant. Validation focused on shock position, shock force with mean pressure recovery projection. The study focused on the influence of operating conditions, primary nozzle outlet position and wall roughness degree on the performance of a supersonic ejector. The Navier-Stokes equations for a two-dimensional, axisymmetric and stationary flow were discretized by the finite volume method under the ANSYS environment with a joint use of data from the REFPROP 7.0 database (REF rigerants PROP erties). The simulation of four two-equation turbulence models (standard k-ε, k-ε RNG, k-ε feasible and standard k-ω), as well as a four-equation model (SST transition), in their version for high Reynolds number is carried out. The numerical model is in good agreement with the experimental pressure profiles. The results presented concern in particular the structure of the mixing layer and the transient character of the shock wave position in the ejector. The results reveal that all models predict a good entrainment ratio. The standard k-ω model gives a better accuracy. It anticipates the onset of the shock at x=0m. The shock of the other models appears afterwards but always in the mixing chamber (between 0 and 0.04m).

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