Numerical optimisation of a two-stage ejector refrigeration plant

Jet-refrigeration cycles seem to provide an interesting solution to the increasing interest in environment protection and the need for energy saving due to their low plant costs, reliability and possibility to use water as operating fluid. A steam/steam ejector cycle refrigerator is investigated introducing a two-stage ejector with annular primary at the second stage. The steady_state refrigerator, exchanging heat with the water streams at inlet fixed temperatures at the three shell and tube heat exchangers, evaporator, condenser and generator, is considered as an open system. Heat transfer irreversibilities in the heat exchangers and external friction losses in the water streams are considered, ignoring the internal pressure drop of the vapor. A simulation program numerically searches the maximum COP at given external inlet fluid temperatures as a function of mass flows, dimensions and temperature differences in the heat exchangers. The code gives the ejector and heat exchangers design parameters. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.