Waste Heat Driven Multi-Ejector Cooling Systems: Optimization of Design at Partial Load; Seasonal Performance and Cost Evaluation

In this paper, a seasonal performance analysis of a hybrid ejector cooling system is carried-out, by considering a multi-ejector pack as expansion device. A 20 kW ejector-based chiller was sized to obtain the optimal tradeoff between performance and investment costs. The seasonal performance of the proposed solution was then evaluated through a dynamic simulation able to obtain the performance of the designed chiller with variable ambient temperatures for three different reference climates. The optimized multi-ejector system required three or four ejectors for any reference climate and was able to enhance the system performance at partial load, with a significant increase (up to 107%) of the seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The proposed system was then compared to conventional cooling technologies supplied by electric energy (electrical chillers EHP) or low-grade heat sources (absorption chillers AHP) by considering the total costs for a lifetime of 20 years and electric energy-specific costs for domestic applications from 0.10 to 0.50 €/kWhel. The optimized multi-ejector cooling system presented a significant convenience with respect to both conventional technologies. For warmer climates and with high electricity costs, the minimum lifetime for the multi-ejector system to achieve the economic break-even point could be as low as 1.9 years.

Thermodynamic Performance Investigation of a Small-Scale Solar Compression-Assisted Multi-Ejector Indoor Air Conditioning System for Hot Climate Conditions

In year-round hot climatic conditions, conventional air conditioning systems consume significant amounts of electricity primarily generated by conventional power plants. A compression-assisted, multi-ejector space cooling system driven by low-grade solar thermal energy is investigated in terms of energy and exergy performance, using a real gas property-based ejector model for a 36 kW-scale air conditioning application, exposed to annually high outdoor temperatures (i.e., up to 42 °C), for four working fluids (R11, R141b, R245fa, R600a). Using R245fa, the multi-ejector system effectively triples the operating condenser temperature range of a single ejector system to cover the range of annual outdoor conditions, while compression boosting reduces the generator heat input requirement and improves the overall refrigeration coefficient of performance (COP) by factors of ~3–8 at medium- to high-bound condenser temperatures, relative to simple ejector cycles. The system solar fraction varies from ~0.2 to 0.9 in summer and winter, respectively, with annual average mechanical and overall COPs of 24.5 and 0.21, respectively. Exergy destruction primarily takes place in the ejector assembly, but ejector exergy efficiency improves with compression boosting. The system could reduce annual electric cooling loads by over 40% compared with a conventional local split air conditioner, with corresponding savings in electricity expenditure and GHG emissions.

Experimental Analysis of Refrigeration Ejector System by using Different Organic Refrigerants

This paper presents the experimental analysis performed on ejectors to optimize operating conditions like evaporator temperature, condenser temperature and generator temperature. Using the environmentally friendly working fluid R134a, R152a, R600a, R717 (Ammonia). Parametric analysis was performed to review the effect of blending chamber geometry on ejector performance which has direct impact on coefficient of performance of ejector refrigeration cycles. Results show that operating conditions and thus the effect of the deflection of the primary flow on the secondary flow is set. CFD simulations was performed to identify optimum geometry and optimum operating condition

Energetic Optimization and Exergetic Performance Investigation of an Ejector System Using HCFO-1233zd(E) as a Refrigerant

In this study, the performance of an ejector refrigeration system using HCFO-1233zd(E) as the working fluid is investigated and presented. A novel improved modeling approach that considers ejector loss coefficients as functions of the ejector pressure lift and area ratio has been used. The resulting mathematical model developed using the first and second laws of thermodynamics and gas dynamics is solved using Engineering Equation Solver. Different ejector geometries with area ratios of 6.44, 7.04, 7.51, 7.73, 8.28, 8.62, 9.13, 9.41 and 10.64 were used in this study. The evaporator temperatures were between 0 °C and 16 °C, the generator temperatures were between 75 °C and 120 °C and the condensing temperatures varied between 20 °C and 40 °C. For the range of parameters used, the optimal coefficient of performance (COP) is in the range 0.11 and 0.88 for evaporator temperatures between 4 °C and 16 °C. At the optimal working conditions, the COP improves with higher area ratios, lower condensing temperatures and requires increased generator temperatures. In the critical mode of operation, both the energetic and exegetic performance of the ejector are shown to decline as generator temperatures increase, evaporator temperatures reduce and as the area ratios decrease. Thermodynamic investigation using the exergy analysis method indicates that most of the exergetic losses come from the ejector (46-56%) followed by the condenser (18-29%), the generator (21-26%), the evaporator (0.8-3%), and the throttle valve (1- 1.6%), with the pump having a very small contribution. Moreover, correlations for the optimal generator and optimal COP were derived and presented. Keywords: Coefficient of performance, Critical mode, Ejector refrigeration system, Ejector loss coefficients, Exergetic performance, Hydroflouroolefins

Performance Analysis and Optimization of an Ejector Refrigeration System Using Alternative Working Fluids under Critical and Subcritical Operation Modes

Ejector systems are receiving considerable attention due to their simplicity, lower maintenance requirements, use of low grade heat, longer lifespan and low cost. In this paper an improved model to predict the performance of an ejector refrigeration system under both the critical and subcritical modes of operation was developed and validated. The model predicts ejector performance more precisely compared to studies following the same modelling approach in the literature. Using the developed model, performances with environmentally benign refrigerants, including R1233zd(E), HFO1336mzz(Z), R1234ze(Z), R600, RE245fa2, and RE245fa2 as alternatives to R141b and R245fa were investigated. For ejector area ratios between 4.45 to 12.98, evaporator temperatures between 0oC and 16oC and condenser temperatures between 20 and 40oC, the optimal performance of the ejector system was determined. Results show that for each refrigerant, higher area ratios give higher coefficients of performance, but require higher generator temperatures for better critical condensing temperatures. R600 showed the best performance followed by R1234Ze(Z) and R1233Zd(E) for the entire range of parameters considered. Results further show that there is an optimum generator temperature at each area ratio that maximizes performance. The optimal generator temperature increases as the area ratio and the condensing temperature increase. An alternative and more convenient approach to optimize ejector performance has been suggested in this work.

Energetic Optimization and Exergetic Performance Investigation of an Ejector System Using HCFO-1233zd(E) as a Refrigerant

In this study, the performance of an ejector refrigeration system using HCFO-1233zd(E) as the working fluid is investigated and presented. A novel improved modeling approach that considers ejector loss coefficients as functions of the ejector pressure lift and area ratio has been used. The resulting mathematical model developed using the first and second laws of thermodynamics and gas dynamics is solved using Engineering Equation Solver. Different ejector geometries with area ratios of 6.44, 7.04, 7.51, 7.73, 8.28, 8.62, 9.13, 9.41 and 10.64 were used in this study. The evaporator temperatures were between 0 °C and 16 °C, the generator temperatures were between 75 °C and 120 °C and the condensing temperatures varied between 20 °C and 40 °C. For the range of parameters used, the optimal coefficient of performance (COP) is in the range 0.11 and 0.88 for evaporator temperatures between 4 °C and 16 °C. At the optimal working conditions, the COP improves with higher area ratios, lower condensing temperatures and requires increased generator temperatures. In the critical mode of operation, both the energetic and exegetic performance of the ejector are shown to decline as generator temperatures increase, evaporator temperatures reduce and as the area ratios decrease. Thermodynamic investigation using the exergy analysis method indicates that most of the exergetic losses come from the ejector (46-56%) followed by the condenser (18-29%), the generator (21-26%), the evaporator (0.8-3%), and the throttle valve (1- 1.6%), with the pump having a very small contribution. Moreover, correlations for the optimal generator and optimal COP were derived and presented. Keywords: Coefficient of performance, Critical mode, Ejector refrigeration system, Ejector loss coefficients, Exergetic performance, Hydroflouroolefins