An experimental investigation of an ejector for validating numerical simulations

Supersonic ejectors have been used in cooling/refrigeration applications since the early 1900s. Interest in supersonic ejectors has been rekindled by recent efforts to reduce energy consumption; ejector refrigeration systems can be powered by solar energy or by waste heat generated by another process. This paper describes an experimental test bench using R245fa that was assembled and operated at CanmetENERGY in Varennes. The results from this test bench provide a source of reference data that may be used to validate numerical models of ejectors that could be used in refrigeration applications. Limited results from two numerical models are presented for comparison; global results from a 1D model and results from a detailed CFD model that show the flow field inside the ejector.