Numerical Study on Flow and Noise Characteristics of High-Temperature and High-Pressure Steam Ejector

Based on the shear stress transfer (SST) k-ω model, Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FW–H) equation, and Lilley sound source equation, the flow and sound field of high-temperature and high-pressure steam ejectors are simulated. The entrainment performance, near-field sound source, and far-field noise of the steam ejector are discussed. The influences of working parameters including the primary steam pressure, the secondary steam pressure, and the back pressure are analyzed. The results show that under the design conditions, the steam ejector has two shock waves and three sound source regions. A shear layer at the boundary of the first shock wave generates the Sound source-I, and the flow separation at the boundary of the second shock wave causes the Sound source-III. The Sound source-II is located near the mixing chamber wall and the sound pressure levels around the ejector depend on the distances from the Sound source-II. In terms of the entrainment performance, with the increasing primary pressure or the decreasing secondary pressure, as the driving pressure difference of the secondary steam decreases, so does the entrainment ratio. As the back pressure increases, the entrainment ratio firstly remains constant, and then rapidly decreases when the back pressure exceeds the critical value at pb = 5.5 MPa. In terms of the noise characteristics, the sound pressure level and the intensity of the second shock wave have a positive correlation. When the primary or secondary pressure increases, the sound pressure level increases. Moreover, with the increasing back pressure, the sound pressure level firstly decreases, reaches the minimum of 98.2 dB at the critical back pressure, and then slowly increases.