Numerical assessment of ejector operation for refrigeration applications based on CFD

This paper represents numerical results of a supersonic ejector for refrigeration applications. The working fluid used for this study is R142b for which some 1-D simulation data is available in the literature for comparison purposes. One of the interesting features is that the current model is based on the NIST-REFPROP database for refrigerants properties calculations. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first paper dealing with local CFD modeling that takes into account shock-boundary layer interactions in a real refrigerant. The numerical results obtained, contribute to understanding the local structure of the flow and demonstrate the crucial role of the secondary nozzle for the mixing rate performance. In addition, these results point out to the need for an extensive validation of the turbulence model, especially in the modeling of the off-design mode. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.