Principle steam ejector

Steam jet ejectors offer a simple, reliable, low-cost way to produce vacuum.

Ejectors are considered an alternative to mechanical vacuum pumps for a number of

reasons:
No source of power is required other than the motive gas;
Because they have no moving parts, they are reliable vacuum

producers;
They are easy to install, operate and maintain.

Ejector Design
it uses a fluid or gas as a motive force
Ejector systems range from the simple, single-ejector stage to very complex systems
with as many as six ejectors in combination with intercondensers.
Multiple-nozzle ejectors are more efficient. They usually save as much as 10% to 20% in
motive steam, compared with single-nozzle units designed for the same conditions.
Multistaged ejectors often promote economy by including intercondensers between
some of the stages to reduce the load to the following stages. Sometimes
precondensers, booster condensers and aftercondensers are also used.

Condensers may be barometric or surface. The size and type of condenser selected is a
function of air-vapor ratios, cooling water temperatures available, steam and water costs, and
contaminants in the suction vapor.
Barometric condensers cost less to buy and install. They have many advantages. However ,
users should be aware that the barometric condenser is a direct-contact design. The cooling
water is mixed directly with the vapor to be condensed. If there are any environmental
considerations concerning the process fluid, it should not be mixed with cooling water.
Ejector Operation: In operation, a high-pressure motive gas enters the steam chest at
low velocity and expands through the converging-diverging nozzle. This results in a
decrease in pressure and an increase in velocity. Meanwhile, the suction fluid enters at
the suction inlet. The motive fluid , which is now at high velocity, entrains the suction fluid
and combines with it.
The two fluids are then recompressed through the diffuser. Potential energy is converted
to kinetic energy; thus, velocity increases and pressure decreases. The mixture reaches
its maximum velocity and lowest pressure at the Venturi throat (Fig. 2). The fluid then is

charges at an intermediate pressure, which is higher than the inlet suction fluid pressure,
but much lower than the inlet motive fluid pressure.

Ejector designs are classified as critical or non-critical. Critical flow means the fluid
velocity in the diffuser throat is sonic. In non-critical units, the fluid velocity is subsonic.
Ejectors designed in the critical range are sensitive to off-design operating conditions.
Suction capacity cannot be increased. In fact, it is actually lowered by increasing the
motive fluid pressure. Because the nozzle is a fixed orifice, any change in the motive
fluid pressure will be accompanied by a proportionate change in the quantity of motive
fluid.
While the ejector itself can be quite simple, specifying the optimum system to meet
specific needs is not simple. Important parameters involved in ejector sizing and staging
include pressure of motive gas, required discharge pressure, suction pressure and
relative mass flow rates of motive fluid to suction fluid.
For instance, most ejectors use steam as the motive fluid. The quality of the motive
steam affects the operation of the unit. The usual requirement is for dry, saturated highpressure steam.
In operation, it is very important to maintain the design quality of steam. If the quality of
the steam is low, suction pressure and capacity will decrease, especially in multistage
designs.
Excessive steam superheat can also adversely affect the suction capacity of an ejector.
It decreases the energy level ratio, and the increase in specific volume tends to choke
the diffuser.

Ejectors can generally be applied on a variety of processes as long as the proper

conditions exist: the motive fluid pressure drop is large enough to develop high velocities
in the nozzles, the difference between suction and discharge pressures is not excessive
and the suction fluid flow is small compared with the motive fluid.
Steam-jet vacuum systems combine ejectors, condensers and interconnecting piping
Since an ejector has no valves, rotors, pistons or other moving parts, it is a relatively
lowcost component, is easy to operate and requires relatively little maintenance.
In a steam-jet ejector, the suction chamber is connected to the vessel or pipeline that is
to be evacuated under vacuum. The gas that is to be induced into the suction chamber can be
any fluid that is compatible with the steam and the components materials of construction.
in a multi-stage system, condensers are typically used between successive ejectors. By
condensing the vapors before sending the stream on to the next stage, the vapor load is
reduced. This allows smaller ejectors to be used, and reduces steam consumption.

Precondensers can be added to reduce the load on the first-stage ejector, and allow for
a smaller unit. An aftercondenser can also be added, to condense vapors from the final stage.
Adding an aftercondenser will not affect overall system performance, but may ease disposal of
vapors.

Vacuum Piping: Paragraph 6.3 of the Heat Exchange Institutes Standards for Steam
Jet Vacuum Systems (4th ed.) details the procedure for calculating pressure drop in vacuum
systems. In general, the diameter of the piping between the process and the ejector system
must be at least as large as the suction connection in the first-stage ejector. In a multipleelement ejector system, where the ejectors may be operated simultaneously, the piping area
must be at least as large as the total cross-sectional area, which is determined by adding the
total areas of all ejector inlet connections.

To minimize pressure drop, all piping between the process and the steam-jet vacuum
system and between each successive stage of the vacuum system should have as few valves
and fittings as possible, and all connections should be kept as short as possible. Wherever
possible, long-radius elbows should be used, and drains must be provided in all low points to
prevent condensate buildup.

When a precondenser is used, the potential pressure drop across it must be calculated,
to ensure that such pressure drop will not impede system performance. The ejector
manufacturer should be consulted to determine the suitability of the installation.

Utilities: Steam Supply A source of dry steam at or slightly above design

pressures- must be available at the ejector nozzles at all times. Operating a steam-jet vacuum
system at steam pressures lower than those specified in the system design will reduce system
stability.

The steam should be dry and saturated, unless the system specifications call for
superheated steam. To maintain the optimum velocity, and avoid excessive heat loss and
pressure drop, an insulated steam lines should be sized to match the connections on the
ejectors. For dry steam, the inlet line should be taken off the top of main steam header.
If moisture is present in the steam, a separator and trap should be used to improve steam
quality to better than 99.5%. An ejector may work with as much as 2 or 3% moisture in the
steam, but would then require greater design pressures. Poor-quality steam will not only
threaten the system, but may cause erosion of the steam nozzle and diffuser.
Condensate Removal: Since the operating pressure of the condenser is subatmospheric
(under vacuum), collected condensate must be continuously removed. This may be
accomplished by gravity, through a trap or a loop-seal tailpipe, or with the help of a condensate
pump.
The following shut-off pressure can be expected (each is approximate, and will vary with the
system):

Single-stage ejector 50 mm Hg absolute (A)

Two-stage ejector 4-1 0 mm HgA
Three-stage ejector 0.8-1.55 mm HgA
Four-stage ejector 0.1-0.2 mm HgA
Five-stage ejector 0.01-0.02 mm HgA
Six-stage ejector 0.001-0.003 mm HgA