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An analysis of the performance of an ejector refrigeration cycle working with R134a

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2015 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 95 012035

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Modern Technologies in Industrial Engineering (ModTech2015) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 95 (2015) 012035 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/95/1/012035

An analysis of the performance of an ejector refrigeration

cycle working with R134a

F Memet and A Preda1

1
Constanta Maritime University, Faculty of Naval Electro-Mechanics, 104 Mircea cel
Batran Street, 900663, Constanta, Romania

E-mail: feizamemet@yahoo.com

Abstract. In the context of recent developments in the field of energy, the aspect related to
energy consumption is of great importance for specialists. Many industries rely on refrigeration
technologies, a great challenge being expressed by attempts in energy savings in this sector. In
this respect, efforts oriented towards efficient industrial refrigeration systems have revealed the
necessity of a proper design. The most commonly used method of cooling is based on vapor
compression cycles. Compared to vapor compression refrigeration systems, an ejector
refrigeration system shows an inferior performance, indicated by the Coefficient of
Performance of the cycle, but it is more attractive from energy saving point of view. In this
respect, the present study deals with a theoretically analysis of an Ejector Refrigeration
System, started with the presentation of the typical ejector design. It is stated that ejector
refrigeration is a thermally driven system which requires low grade thermal energy for its
working. After a short description of the analyzed system, are given equations for thermal
loads and Coefficient of Performance calculation, on First Law basis. The working fluid
considered in this research is Freon R134a. The developed study is focused on the effect of
generating temperature variation on the Coefficient of Performance (COP) and on the work
input to the pump when the cooling effect, the condensation temperature, the evaporation
temperature and the reference state temperature are kept constant. Are obtained results in the
following conditions: the condensation temperature is tc = 33oC, the evaporation temperature is
te = 3oC, the reference state temperature is to = 23oC. The generating temperature varies in the
range 82 ÷ 92oC and the cooling effect is 1 kW. Also, are known the isentropic efficiencies of
the ejector, which are 0.90, and the isentropic efficiency of the pump, which is 0.75.
Calculation will reveal that the Coefficient of Performance is increasing together with the
increase of the generating temperature values, the best COP value being 0.178, in the
considered range for the mentioned temperature. In the same time, the generating temperature
increase leads to the increase of the work input to the pump.

1. Introduction
Refrigeration is a sector which is making possible our modern life. In the framework of global
temperature increase, our dependency on refrigeration systems will be stronger in the next decades.
Refrigeration systems are welcome not only when we talk about food industry, refrigerators are used
in different applications such as ensuring of thermal comfort, medical procedures or industrial sectors.
The environmental degradation resulted from refrigeration use comes mainly from generating the
electricity needed to run them and from leakage of refrigerants. Expected new technologies, which
will solve in a way the actual environmental impact of refrigeration, should be defined by an improved

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Modern Technologies in Industrial Engineering (ModTech2015) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 95 (2015) 012035 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/95/1/012035

working performance, coming from less combustion of primary energy and mitigation of the ozone
damaging and global warming.
Ejector refrigeration systems (ERS) are thermally driven technologies which have been used for
cooling applications for many years. These systems are similar to vapor compression refrigeration
systems, which are one of the most common types of refrigeration systems; here, instead of the
compressor will work an ejector, a generator and a small pump [1].
Ejector refrigeration systems offer advantages of simplicity in construction, installation and
maintenance, no moving parts, high reliability and low cost. For this reason, they are more attractive
than vapor compression refrigeration systems.
Compared to vapor compression refrigeration systems, ejector refrigeration system offers a lower
Coefficient of Performance, but it is more attractive in energy saving [2].
Lately, have been done attempts to extend the penetration of ERS in refrigeration and air
conditioning sector by the use of low-grade thermal energy, such as solar energy and waste heat, in the
system; thus will be possible to fight against environmental issues, to reduce CO2 emission from the
combustion of fossil fuels [3].
Ejectors are simple pieces of equipment. Their working principle is based on the conversion of
internal energy and pressure related flow work contained in the motive fluid stream into kinetic energy
[4]. A typical ejector consists of a driving nozzle, a suction nozzle, a mixing section and a diffuser, as
seen in figure 1. The performance of an ejector is evaluated by dealing with one dimensional
governing equation specific to each component part. The bellow assumptions are considered in this
assessment [5]:
- the flow is one-dimensional and steady,
- driving flow and suction flow are considered to be ideal gases,
- the thermo physical properties are constant,
- chock occurs inside the driving nozzle, suction nozzle and mixing section,
-entropy losses during the shock wave or mixing are assessed by the use of different coefficients,
- friction losses along the pipe are neglected.

Nozzle Suction chamber Diffusor

Mixing chamber

Primary motive
fluid
Condenser

Generator

Throat

Inter cooler
Secondary fluid

Figure 1. A Typical ejector design.

2. Methods and materials

The ejector is the main component part of the basic ejector refrigeration system. A low grade heat (Q g)
is used in the generator to evaporate the liquid refrigerant having a high pressure. The high pressure
refrigerant vapors of state 2, known as primary fluid, enter and expand through the nozzle. Results a
reduction in the pressure which enables the entrainment of vapors from evaporator of state 3, known

2
Modern Technologies in Industrial Engineering (ModTech2015) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 95 (2015) 012035 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/95/1/012035

as the secondary fluid. In the mixing chamber occurs the mix of the two fluids, before entering the
diffuser section where the flow decelerates and takes place pressure recovery. Then, the mixed fluid
flows into the condenser where condenses into liquid by evacuating heat to the environment (Qc).
Resulted liquid of state 5 is divided into two parts: one is pumped back into the generator and the other
goes into the evaporator with state 6, after being first expanded through an expansion device. The low
pressure liquid refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator producing the cooling effect (Qo); resulted
vapors of state 3 enter in the ejector. The described system is given in figure 2

Figure 2. Basic ejector refrigeration cycle

First law analysis offers equations for thermal loads and COP calculation [6]:

heat load in the evaporator:

Qo  mo h3  h6  (1)
heat load in the generator:
Qg  mg h2  h1 
(2)
heat load in the condenser:
Qc  mc h4  h5  (3)
pumping work:
W p  m p h1  h5 
(4)
Above, m – mass flow rate (kg/s), h – enthalpy (kJ/kg), Q – heat load (kW),Wp - pumping work (kJ/s)
The efficiency of the ejector refrigeration cycle is assessed by the help of COP (Coefficient of
Performance), defined as the ratio between the cooling effect and energy input of the cycle (the sum
between the necessary heat input and work input to the pump):
Qo
COP 
Qg  W p
(5)

3
Modern Technologies in Industrial Engineering (ModTech2015) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 95 (2015) 012035 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/95/1/012035

3. Results and discussions

The following results are obtained when ERS is working with R134a, the condensation temperature is
tc = 33oC, the evaporation temperature is te = 3oC, the reference state temperature is to = 23oC, the
generating temperature is the range 82 ÷ 92oC, the cooling effect is 1 kW, isentropic efficiencies of the
ejector are 0. 90 and the isentropic efficiency of the pump is 0.75.
Figures 3 and 4 show the effect of the variation of generating temperature on work input to the
pump and COP, when other temperatures are kept constant.

Figure 3. Effect of the generating Figure 4. Effect of generating temperature on

temperature on work input to the pump COP

Together with the increase of the generating temperatures might be seen an increase of work input
to the pump and COP. When keeping constant the cooling effect, COP offers best values for high
values of the generating temperature; rising this temperature will lead to more consumption in the
pump.

4. Conclusions
Despite of the advantages shown by ejector refrigeration systems (ERS), the performance of the
basic ERS need to be improved. This paper is an attempt in this respect.
For a specific cooling effect and given condensation and evaporation temperatures, the generating
temperature is varying in order to find when best COP is achieved. Thus, was found that:
- first law efficiency (COP) is increasing together with the increase of the generating temperature
values;
- in the considered range for the generating temperature (82 ÷ 92oC), best COP value (0.178) is
obtained for the highest generating temperature: tg = 92oC;
- the generating temperature increase leads to the increase of work input to the pump.

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Modern Technologies in Industrial Engineering (ModTech2015) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 95 (2015) 012035 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/95/1/012035

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