Multi-Factor Design for a Vacuum Ejector Improvement by In-Depth Analysis of Construction Parameters

Llorenç Macia (), Robert Castilla, Pedro Javier Gamez-Montero and Gustavo Raush
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Llorenç Macia: CATMech—Centre for Advanced Technologies in Mechanics, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Catalunya, ES-08222 Terrassa, Spain
Robert Castilla: CATMech—Centre for Advanced Technologies in Mechanics, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Catalunya, ES-08222 Terrassa, Spain
Pedro Javier Gamez-Montero: CATMech—Centre for Advanced Technologies in Mechanics, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Catalunya, ES-08222 Terrassa, Spain
Gustavo Raush: CATMech—Centre for Advanced Technologies in Mechanics, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Catalunya, ES-08222 Terrassa, Spain

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: A vacuum supersonic ejector is an indispensable pneumatic device placed in nearly all industrial production lines. This device, also called a zero-secondary flow ejector, is characterized by the maximum entrained flow and the minimum secondary pressure. Numerical simulations were carried out by means of the CFD toolbox OpenFOAM v8 and its solver HiSA, which uses the AUSM+up upwind scheme. A single-factor analysis of eight parameters was performed to find how the ejector’s performance was enhanced or decreased, while other parameters were fixed. Four parameters were subject to further analysis to find the geometry that improves the standalone performance of the ejector. The mixing chamber length is the parameter that most improves its performance; alone it leads to a 10% improvement. A multi-factor analysis, based on a fractional factorial design, is carried out with the four relevant parameters. Results indicate that the multi-factor analysis enhances the performance of the ejector by 10.4% and the mixing chamber length is the factor that most influences the improvement. Although a multi-factor design improves the performance, no significant relevance has been detected with respect to the mixing chamber length improvement alone. The improved performance of this device leads to a reduction in operating time and, as a consequence, results in significant energy savings.

Keywords: vacuum ejector; OpenFOAM; CFD; HiSA; compressible flow; multi-factor design; nozzle; supersonic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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