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Understanding ejector
systems necessary
to troubleshoot vacuum distillation
James R. Lines Graham Corp. Batavia, NY
.
A complete understanding of ejector vacuum distillation unit (CVDU) utilities supply, corrosion and erosion,
system performance characteristics can performance. fouling, and process conditions.
reduce the time and expense associated Variables that may negatively impact
with troubleshooting poor crude the ejector-system performance of
vacuum-crude distillation units include
Fig 1. Fig. 2
Fig. 5
Typically, velocity exiting a motive steam
nozzle is in the range of 3,000-4,000 fps. This
high-velocity motive steam then entrains and
mixes with the suction fluid. The resultant
mixture is still supersonic. As the mixture
passes through the convergent, throat, and
divergent sections of a diffuser, high velocity
is converted back to pressure.
The convergent section of a diffuser reduces
velocity as cross sectional area is reduced.
Intuitively, one normally thinks that as flow
area is reduced, velocity is increased. But a
unique thermodynamic phenomenon occurs
with gases at supersonic conditions: As
cross-sectional flow area is reduced, the
velocity is reduced.
The diffuser throat is designed to create a
shock wave. The shock wave produces a
dramatic increase in pressure as the flow goes
from supersonic to subsonic across it. In the
divergent section of the diffuser, cross-
sectional flow area is increased and velocity is
parts. Major components of an ejector further reduced and converted to pressure. A
Tables 1 and 2 are troubleshooting guides to consist of the shock wave occurs in the diffuser throat when
ejector and condenser problems in vacuum the compression ratio of an ejector is 2:l or
ejector systems. Fig. 1 is a photo of an motive nozzle, motive chest, suction greater, which is the case with CVDU ejector
installed ejector at a CVDU. chamber, and diffuser (Fig. 2). systems.
Two actual case studies conducted by service High velocity is achieved through adiabatic An ejector-performance curve gives the
engineers on CVDU-ejector systems show expansion of motive steam across a expected suction pressure as a function of
how to troubleshoot ejector problems. The convergent/divergent steam nozzle. This water-vapor equivalent loading (Fig. 3). Heat
first problem was a result of improper expansion of steam from the motive pressure Exchange Institute Standards for Steam Jet
replacement of an intercondenser, and the to the suction fluid operating pressure results Ejectors describes the method to convert the
second was a result of underestimation of in supersonic velocities at the exit of the mixture (air, water vapor, and various
noncondensible loading during design, which steam nozzle. hydrocarbons) to a water-vapor equivalent or
has recently become a common problem. The motive steam actually expands to a an air-equivalent load.
pressure below the suction fluid pressure. Other important information noted on an
This expansion creates a low-pressure region, ejector performance curve includes the
Ejectors which draws suction fluid into an ejector. minimum motive steam pressure, the
An ejector converts pressure energy of maximum motive steam temperature, and
motive steam into velocity. It has no moving
the maximum discharge pressure. performance will have a dramatic ef-fect Intercondensers are positioned be-
If field measurements differ from a on a downstream ejector. tween two ejector stages. Condensation
performance curve, then there may be a Although vacuum condensers are of intercondensers occurs at a pressure
problem with the process, utility supply, constructed like process shell-and-tube corresponding to the dis-charge pressure
or the ejector itself. heat exchangers, their internal designs of a preceding ejector and the suction
differ significantly due to the presence pressure of a downstream ejector.
Condensers of two-phase flow, noncon-densible gas,
and vacuum operation.
A condenser in an ejector system reduces Steam pressure and temperature
the amount of vapor load that a Vacuum condensers for crude-tower
The temperature and pressure of
downstream ejector must handle. applications have cooling water on the
motive-steam supply is one of the most
Condensers of an ejector system are tube side. Condensation of water vapor
important variables affecting ejector
designed to condense steam and and hydrocarbons takes place on the
operation. If the pressure falls below
condensible hydrocarbons and cool shellside. A major portion of the
design pressure, then the motive nozzle
noncondensible gases. condensibles contained in the inlet
will pass less steam. If this occurs, an
In many cases, the inlet load to a stream (shell side) change from a vapor
ejector does not have enough energy to
condenser is many times greater than to liquid phase. The remaining
entrain and compress a suction load to
the load to a downstream ejector. condensibles and the noncondensible
the design discharge pressure.
Consequently, any loss in condenser gases are removed from the condenser
Similarly, if the motive-steam supply
through a vapor-outlet connection by a
downstream ejector.
Table 1