Experimental Investigation of the Steam Ejector in a Single-Effect Thermal Vapor Compression Desalination System Driven by a Low-Temperature Heat Source

Abstract

The paper presents an experimental investigation of a steam ejector in a single-effect thermal vapor compression (S-TVC) desalination system driven by a low-temperature (below 100 °C) heat source. To investigate the performance of the steam ejector in the S-TVC desalination system, an experimental steam ejector system was designed and built. The influences of the nozzle exit position (NXP), operating temperatures, and the area ratio of the ejector (AR) on the steam ejector performance were investigated at primary steam temperatures ranging from 40 °C to 70 °C, and at secondary steam temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 25 °C. The experimental results showed that the steam ejector can work well in the S-TVC desalination system driven by a low-temperature heat source below 100 °C. The steam ejector could achieve a higher coefficient of performance (COP) by decreasing the primary steam temperature, increasing the secondary steam temperature, and increasing the AR. The steam ejector could also be operated at a higher critical condensation temperature by increasing the primary steam temperature and secondary steam temperature, and decreasing the AR. This study will allow S-TVC desalination to compete with adsorption desalination (AD).

Keywords

• desalination
• single-effect thermal vapor compression (S-TVC)
• steam ejector
• low-temperature heat source