Numerical assessment of the dynamic behavior of a solar-driven jet-ejector refrigeration system equipped with an adjustable jet-ejector

Abstract

[EN] In the present paper, the mid-term performance of two different architectures of a solar-driven jet-ejector refrigeration system is numerically compared: the first one is fitted with a fixed-geometry jet-ejector while the second one is equipped with an adjustable spindle that modifies the jet-ejector area ratio. The jet-ejector behavior has been predicted with a validated computational fluid dynamics approach and the dynamic response of the overall system accounts for transient effects in a small parabolic trough collector and a hot thermal storage tank. The investigation shows that the adjustable jet-ejector allows for continuous and smooth operation in a much wider range of outdoor conditions. Additionally, it enables more efficient management of the thermal level in the hot storage system. As a result, the adjustable refrigeration system improves the performance indicators in all the warm months of the typical meteorological year under evaluation. The maximum improvement potential is found in May; the fixed-geometry system provides an average COPth of 0.34 while the adjustable system reaches an average COPth of 0.48 considering the same boundary conditions in both cases. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.