Ejector

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an ejector that comprises a housing portion and first and second fluid inlets. The ejector further comprises a fluid outlet and a fluid nozzle that is positioned in the housing and coupled to the first fluid inlet. The fluid nozzle is arranged such that a first fluid that is received by the first inlet at a first pressure PI has a second pressure P 2 after passing through the fluid nozzle. The pressure P 2 lower that the pressure PI. The ejector also comprises a mixing region that is arranged such that the first fluid when passing through the mixing region draws a second fluid from the second fluid inlet such that the first and second fluids mix. The ejector has an ejector diffuser region that has a cross-sectional area that increases in diameter in a direction towards the fluid outlet and is arranged such that the mixture of the first and second fluid exits the ejector through the fluid outlet with a third pressure. The ejector is arranged such that a position of an outlet of the fluid nozzle relative to the mixing region is adjusted dependent on PI, P 2 and/or P 3.

1 . An ejector comprising:
 a housing portion;   a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet;   a fluid nozzle positioned in the housing portion and coupled to the first fluid inlet, the fluid nozzle being arranged such that a first fluid that has a fluid inlet pressure P 1  and is received by the first fluid inlet has a fluid nozzle exit pressure after passing through the fluid nozzle, the fluid nozzle exit pressure being lower than P 1 ;   a mixing region arranged such that the first fluid when passing through the mixing region draws a second fluid from the second fluid inlet such that the first and second fluids mix; and   a fluid outlet through which a mixture of the first and second fluids exits the ejector;   wherein the ejector is arranged such that a position of an outlet of the fluid nozzle relative to the mixing region is adjusted dependent on at least one of P 1  and/or and a pressure of the mixed first and second fluids; and   wherein the ejector comprises a conduit that is arranged such that a portion of the conduit at or near the fluid nozzle of the ejector has a pressure that is proportional to, or substantially equals, a pressure of the mixed first and second fluids and wherein the ejector is arranged such that the portion of the conduit at or near the fluid nozzle of the ejector is isolated from unmixed first and second fluids.   
     
     
         2 . The ejector of  claim 1  wherein the ejector is arranged such that the position of an outlet of the fluid nozzle relative to the mixing region is self-adjusted dependent on at least one of P 1  and a pressure of the mixed first and second fluids. 
     
     
         3 . The ejector of  claim 2  comprising a passive structure that is arranged for self-adjusting of the position of the outlet of the fluid nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The ejector of  claim 1  comprising an actuator that is arranged to adjust a position of the outlet of the fluid nozzle dependent on at least one of P 1  and a pressure of the mixed first and second fluids. 
     
     
         5 . The ejector of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid has a second pressure P 2  after passing through the fluid nozzle, P 2  being lower than P 1 , and the mixture of the first and second fluid exits the ejector with a third pressure P 3 ;
 wherein the ejector is arranged such that the position of the outlet of the fluid nozzle relative to the mixing region is adjusting dependent on at least one of P 1 , P 2  and P 3 . 
 
     
     
         6 . The ejector of  claim 1  comprising an ejector diffuser having an interior portion with a cross-sectional area that increases in diameter in a direction towards the fluid outlet and is arranged such that the mixture of the first and second fluid exits the ejector through the fluid outlet with the third pressure P 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The ejector of  claim 1  comprising a converging region that is provided in addition to the mixing region and that is positioned such that the mixed first and second fluids converge before exiting the ejector, the converging region having a cross-sectional area that reduces in diameter in a direction towards the outlet of the ejector. 
     
     
         8 . The ejector of  claim 1  wherein the mixing region is provided in the form of a converging region and is arranged such that that the first and second fluids converge during or after mixing and before exiting the ejector, the converging region having a cross-sectional area that reduces in diameter in a direction towards the outlet of the ejector. 
     
     
         9 . The ejector of  claim 5  wherein the ejector is arranged such that the outlet of the fluid nozzle moves away from the converging region if the pressure P 2  increases relative to another pressure within the ejector. 
     
     
         10 . The ejector of  claim 5  wherein the ejector is arranged such that the outlet of the fluid nozzle moves towards or into the converging region if the pressure P 3  increases relative to another pressure within the ejector. 
     
     
         11 . The ejector of  claim 5  wherein a length by which the relative position of the ejector is adjusted is largely proportional to a change in P 2  relative to another pressure in the ejector or P 3  relative to another pressure in the ejector. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The ejector of  claim 1  comprising a diaphragm that seals at least a portion around the fluid nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The ejector of  claim 13  wherein the diaphragm is arranged such that the fluid nozzle or a portion thereof moves until the diaphragm or another portion of the ejector provides a sufficient reaction force for locating the fluid nozzle in an adjusted position. 
     
     
         15 . The ejector of  claim 13  wherein the diaphragm surrounds at least a portion of the fluid nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The ejector of  claim 1  comprising a moveable wall portion that is rigid and wherein the moveable wall portion is coupled to a spring. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The ejector of  claim 17  wherein the moveable wall portion is directly or indirectly coupled to the fluid nozzle such that the fluid nozzle or a portion thereof moves with the moveable wall portion until the spring provides a sufficient reaction force for locating the fluid nozzle in an adjusted position. 
     
     
         20 . The ejector of  claim 5  wherein the conduit is arranged such that a portion of the conduit at or near the fluid nozzle of the ejector has a pressure that is proportional to, or substantially equals, the pressure P 2  and wherein the ejector is arranged such that the portion of the conduit at or near the fluid nozzle of the ejector is isolated from unmixed first and second fluids. 
     
     
         21 . The ejector of  claim 20  wherein the conduit is arranged such that a side portion of a diaphragm or a moveable wall portion is exposed to a pressure that is proportional to, or approximately equals, P 2 , wherein the ejector is arranged such that an increase in P 2  relative to another pressure within the ejector results in a movement of the nozzle or portion thereof away from the mixing region of the ejector. 
     
     
         22 . The ejector of  claim 5  wherein the conduit is arranged such that a portion of the conduit at or near the fluid nozzle of the ejector has a pressure that is proportional to, or substantially equals, the pressure P 3  and wherein the ejector is arranged such that the portion of the conduit at or near the fluid nozzle of the ejector is isolated from unmixed first and second fluids. 
     
     
         23 . The ejector of  claim 22  wherein the conduit is arranged such that a side portion of a diaphragm or a moveable wall portion is exposed to a pressure that is proportional to, or approximately equals, P 3 , wherein the ejector is arranged such that an increase in P 3  relative to another pressure within the ejector results in a movement of the nozzle or portion thereof into or towards the mixing region of the ejector. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)