Fluid jet ejector and ejection method

A fluid jet ejector comprising:

• a body containing a fluid passage including a primary fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized primary fluid, a fluid outlet, a vacuum chamber between said inlet and outlet, at least one group of jets communicating said inlet to said chamber, a convergent-divergent diffuser consisting of an upstream convergent compression chamber and a downstream divergent expansion chamber associated with each jet group and communicating said chamber to said outlet, and a secondary fluid inlet opening to said chamber for receiving a secondary fluid,
• each of the jets consisting essentially of a circular opening in a wall oriented transverse to the fluid passage and located between said primary fluid inlet and said vacuum chamber, and
• the jets of each jet group being aligned with the associated diffuser to discharge through said vacuum chamber into the associated diffuser a plurality of substantially parallel, relatively high velocity jet streams of said primary fluid which entrain secondary fluid entering said chamber through said secondary inlet and carry the entrained secondary fluid from said chamber through the associated diffuser.

A fluid jet ejector comprising:

• a body containing a fluid passage including a primary fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized primary fluid, a fluid outlet, a vacuum chamber between said inlet and outlet, a wall between said inlet and said chamber, at least one group of orifice openings through said wall communicating said inlet to said chamber through said wall, a convergent-divergent diffuser consisting of an upstream convergent compression chamber and a downstream divergent expansion chamber associated with each orifice group and communicating said chamber to said outlet, and a secondary fluid inlet opening to said chamber for receiving a secondary fluid,
• each of said orifice openings comprising a circular opening in a wall oriented transverse to the fluid passage and located between said primary fluid inlet and said vacuum chamber, and
• the orifice openings of each orifice group being aligned with the associated diffuser to discharge through said vacuum chamber into said diffuser means a plurality of relatively high velocity jet streams of said primary fluid which entrain secondary fluid entering said chamber through said secondary inlet and carry the entrained secondary fluid from said chamber through said diffuser means.

A fluid jet ejector comprising:

• a modular body containing a fluid passage including a primary fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized liquid, a fluid outlet, a vacuum chamber between said inlet and outlet, jet means communicating said inlet to said chamber, at least one convergent-divergent diffuser communicating said chamber to said outlet, and a secondary fluid inlet opening to said chamber for receiving a gas, and wherein
• said jet means being located upstream of and aligned with said diffuser to discharge at least one relatively high velocity jet stream of said liquid through said chamber into said diffuser, whereby gas entering said vacuum chamber through said secondary inlet is entrained by said jet stream and carried from said chamber with said jet stream, and said modular body comprising a plurality of parts assembled in fluid sealing relation and including first and second outer parts containing said primary fluid inlet and said outlet, respectively, and inner parts between said outer parts containing said jet means, said vacuum chamber, and said diffuser, and means joining said parts, and wherein
• said body has a rectangular block shape, whereby said ejectors are adapted to be stacked on and beside one another to form a multiple ejector assembly.

A fluid jet ejector according to claim 20, wherein:

• said inner parts include a third part adjacent said first part, and a fourth part between said second and third parts, and
• said third part includes an inner wall containing orifice means forming said jet means, said third and fourth part form a recess at one side of said wall forming said vacuum chamber, and said fourth part contains convergent-divergent passage means forming said diffuser.

A fluid jet ejector comprising:

• a body containing a fluid passage including a primary fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized liquid, a fluid outlet, a vacuum chamber between said inlet and outlet, jet means communicating said inlet to said chamber, at least one convergent-divergent diffuser, communicating said chamber to said outlet, and a secondary fluid inlet opening to said chamber for receiving a gas,
• said jet means being located upstream of and aligned with said diffuser to discharge at least one relatively high velocity jet stream of said liquid through said chamber into said diffuser, whereby gas entering said vacuum chamber through said secondary inlet is entrained by said jet stream and carried from said chamber with said jet stream, and
• said body having a rectangular block shape, whereby said ejectors are adapted to be stacked on and beside one another to form a multiple ejector assembly.

A fluid jet ejector assembly comprising:

• a plurality of fluid jet ejectors each comprising a body containing a fluid passage including a primary fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized liquid, a fluid outlet, a vacuum chamber between said inlet and outlet, at least one convergent-divergent diffuser consisting of an upstream convergent compression chamber and a downstream divergent expansion chamber communicating said chamber to said outlet, a secondary fluid inlet opening to said chamber for receiving a gas, and jet means comprising at least one jet communicating said inlet to said chamber for discharging at least one relatively high velocity jet stream of said liquid through said vacuum chamber into said diffuser in a manner such that gas entering said chamber through said secondary inlet is entrained by said liquid and is carried from the chamber with the liquid each of the jets consisting essentially of a circular opening in a wall oriented transverse to the fluid passage and located between said primary fluid inlet and said vacuum chamber, and
• a secondary fluid inlet line connected to the secondary fluid inlets of the several ejectors for conducting said gas to the ejectors.

A fluid jet ejection method for use with one or more fluid jet ejectors having a vacuum chamber upstream of one or more diffusers, comprising the steps of:

• providing a liquid primary fluid and a gaseous secondary fluid,
• directing a group of laterally spaced high velocity jet streams of said primary fluid through a vacuum chamber and into the convergent end of at least one convergent-divergent diffuser while admitting said secondary fluid to said chamber in such a way as to (a) create within said chamber a reduced pressure which draws the secondary fluid into said chamber, and (b) provide between the adjacent jet streams within said chamber flow spaces in which the secondary fluid is entrained and carried from the chamber by the jet streams.

A fluid jet ejection method for use with one or more fluid ejectors having a vacuum chamber upstream of one or more diffusers, comprising the steps of:

• providing a liquid primary fluid and a gaseous secondary fluid,
• directing a plurality of groups of laterally spaced high velocity jet streams of said primary fluid through a vacuum chamber and into the convergent ends of associated convergent-divergent diffusers equal in number to said groups while admitting said secondary fluid to said chamber in such a way that the jet streams of each group enter their respective associated diffuser and further in such a way as to (a) create within said chamber a reduced pressure which draws the secondary fluid into said chamber, and (b) provide between the adjacent jet streams of each group within said chamber flow spaces in which the secondary fluid is entrained and carried from the chamber by the jet streams.