IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v331y2025ics036054422502732x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investigation on formation, evolution, and performance impact of mixing layer in the zeotropic mixture ejector

Author

Listed:
  • Tan, Yingying
  • Zhang, Kai
  • Wang, Lin
  • Li, Xiaoyang
  • Wen, Chuang

Abstract

This study investigates the fluid mixing mechanisms in zeotropic mixture ejectors, which are critical for enhancing the performance of ejector-based refrigeration cycles. A fluid dynamic model of an R245fa/R32 ejector is developed from the perspective of mixing layer evolution and validated against experimental data. The initiation and development of the mixing layer are analyzed under both subcritical and critical operating conditions, focusing on key characteristics such as the growth of the mixing boundary layer, mixing layer thickness, and non-mixing length. Results reveal that the mixing layer originates at the initial interface between the primary and secondary streams and gradually thickens along the flow direction. Its evolution is significantly affected by the operating mode: subcritical conditions lead to pronounced fluctuations in mixing layer thickness, whereas critical conditions maintain greater stability. Furthermore, the R245fa mass fraction influences the development of the mixing layer, which shows two distinct growth stages. Lower R245fa mass fraction slows the growth rate, while a more stable mixing boundary layer and an extended initial growth phase contribute to enhanced entrainment performance. This work establishes a systematic relationship between mixing layer evolution and ejector efficiency, offering a theoretical foundation for the design and optimization of zeotropic mixture ejectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Tan, Yingying & Zhang, Kai & Wang, Lin & Li, Xiaoyang & Wen, Chuang, 2025. "Investigation on formation, evolution, and performance impact of mixing layer in the zeotropic mixture ejector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:331:y:2025:i:c:s036054422502732x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137090
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036054422502732X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.137090?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:331:y:2025:i:c:s036054422502732x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.