1955 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 219

. -

STEAM JET EJECTORS

By B. H. CHANDLER
Introduction
Engineers the world over are in general concerned with the design,
construction and operation of equipment aimed at improving existing-,
or establisl~ingnew, standards in their particular speciality. \\%atever
improx*ements are conceived bv them, their ultimate objectives as
engineers are towards simplicity, eflicienep, and the use of naturally
available power---these to be consistent u i t h the eeoriornic considera-
tions connected with the problems in mind.
Those concerned with the 14ustralian sugar industry are equally
anxious that the highest possible peak in its cificiency be attained, from
the growing and harvesting of the cane to the production of reiined
sugar. W e are well aware of the necessity of competing with overseas
markets, the products I'roxn u.11ich are often the result of comparatively
inexpensive native labour.
One of tlze most important stages in the production of sugar takes
place in the vacuum pans and evaporators of the sugar mill. It is
intended to indicate ho~va small but important unit-- the stem11 jet
ejector- -may be used with baromeiric condensers serving tlzese vc;cssels
to furtllrr the objectives of raising mill efficiencies and lowcring operating
costs.

What is a Steam J e t Ejector ?

A stearn jet ejector, as the rlame implies, is a steam operated device
designed so that a high 1-elocity stearn jet entrains gases and vapours,
and transfers them, together with the ope~atingsteam from a given
to a higher pressure. Figure l illustrates the construction of a typical
steam jet ejector. Its principal components are the steam no~zle,suction
chamber and diffusor. The stearn no~zleproduces a steam jet, which
entrains gases in the suctiorl chamber. By xirtue of its kinetic energy,
the steam carries the gases andjor vapours through the venturi shaped
diffusor, where the kinetic energy is changed to pressure energy at the
discharge point.
.
,
l h e gases handled by an ejrctor Inay be either of a non-corrosive
or corrosive nature. 111 the formrr case, the ejector may be constructed
of steel andlor cast iron, whilst in the latter case it is generally of carbon
blocks held together by a bolted steel sheath. The unit illustrated in
Fig. 1 is a single stage, single element ejector and is the basic unit from
which all ejector installations are derived. Single stage ejectors are
capable of bandling as mnuch as 4,000 lb. of dry air per hour at suction
pressures as low as 2.5 in. I-Ig. alxolute. Howex~er,two stage ejectors
are generally preferred below 1 in. Hg. absolute, although there are
many applications for single stage units between 3 in, and 4 in. Hg.
2.20 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 1955

absolute. In order that ejectors may operate at lower intake pressures,

they may be arranged in series and are then termed multi-stage units.
In the same way as a multi-stage compressor may utilize an inter-cooler
between its stages to reduce the load on succeeding compression cvlinders,
a multi-stage ejector unit may be fitted with an inter-condenser. Inter-
condensers may be either direct contact types complete with barometric
leg, or surface type requiring a pump for the removal of condensate.
Multi-stage ejectors are capable of drawlng vacua to lmnl HR. or less
when handling specific quantities of air vapour mixtures or other
non-conclensable gases.

Fig. l--Showing the construction of a typical

steam jet ejector.

In order to increase the flexibility of cjectors, thev may l)e arranged

in parallel and are then termed multiple element units. I t is common
where a very short pump out time is required to use one or more
"hogging" ejectors which are operated only during the pump out time.
When the required vacuum has been reached they arc closed off from
the system. Where economy in the use of water is desirable, and steam
should be rccovercd, an after-condenser may be used to condense the
operating steam.
Ejectors commonly operate on steam pressures between 80 and 126
y.s.i.g., but are also manufactured to operate on pressures as low as 20
or as high as 400 p.s.i.g. or more. I t can be seen, therefore, that ejectors
1955 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE

are available lvhicb are capble of operating under the majority of

conditions to be found in both process and prime-nos-er service. For
the applications discussed in this paper, lio~ve\-er,it is recommended
that pressures above 70 p.s.i.g. be used.

Conditions and Applications in Sugar hfills

I t is corninon to find in Australian sugar mills tliat non-condensdbles
are removed from barometric condenser heads by reciprocating or rotary
vacuum pumps, which are usually &ken by electric motors. Both
rotary and reciprocating vacuum pumps, ~noi-epartic~xlarlythe latter,
have many moving parts which are subject to \Tear and are affected by
containjnated gases, should they be drawn into them. The initial outlay
requirecl for a X-acuumpump, its electric motor, and their installation
is relatively high and the anrlt~almaintenance cost on the pump is a
consicleral~lefractiori of its initial outlay.
Few, ~f anv, mills are troul3led by a shortage of bagasse which is
utilisecl as a (:heap source of fuel for the production of steam. Steam
is the main source of power in sugar mills at present and, if it can be
producecI cheaply, should be usecl as directly 'is possible so as to eliminate
all unnecessary capital costs. The plant ge~ierallyrequired at present
ior the rernoL a1 of non-condensal>lesfrom barometric condensers involves
the vacuurn pump itself, an electric rnotor and a portion of the generator
set capacity from which the electrical power is procluced. There are also
efficiency losses to be acco~zntcadfor in all of these units. I t would
therefore he cksirable t o utilize a unit s~hich\\.odd be of low capital
cost, xvoulcl require negligible maintenance and would consume less
power than a reciprocating or rotarv vacuurn pump. The steam jet
ejector is the xinit which most closely satisfies rhese requirements,
although it cannot be said that it requires less steam. Its initial capital
cost is very much less than that of a bczre vacuum pump. Naturally the
prices quoted by manufacturers for both steam jct ejectors and vacuum
pump" ary, but an estimation oil average tigurrs indicates that an
ejector costs &out 50 per cent. of that of a11 equivalent bare vacuum
puinp.
The extreme simplicity of con$ructiun of steam jet ejector unit?,
whether equipped with ;m inter-condenser or not, gives them a par-
tic~llarlylong working life and, having no movinq parts, they requir8
little maintenance. The average life of an ejector serving a barometric
conclcnstxr would be about l5 years, at the end of m-hich time only the
steam nozzle woultl need to be replaced for about 10 per cent, the cost
of the ejector. Naturally, the steam nozzle must he protected by the
insertion of strainers and traps in the steam line. Steam is used directly
from the boilers, and a quantity of capital plant is thereby eliminated.
'The only lriaintenance required by an ejector is a clcan in the slack
season, even then it is probable that only the - u c t i o ~chamber
~ svoulcl
need attention.
Steam jet ejectors have been in uie for many years overseas for
both process and prime-mover serklce, and the csperimental stage of
their development has long since passect. They can therefore be used
with confidence and dependability wherever an economic application
presents itself. Providing the supplier i b familiar with the conditions
222 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 1955

under which the ejector is to operate and. the required capacity is knoxvn,
then a suitable unit can he supplieci.
Installation
Because of its conlp~rrativelylight \\,eight, an ejector unit may be
easily niounted in the most effective position, which is close to the head
of the condenser. Tllis dvoids the pressure loss caused by a long length,
of pipe.
Exhaust steani could either be blown through the roof to atmosphere
or, if steanl economy is required, eshaustecl to the low pressure main
for use in the boiling Irouse. Should the latter course be consiclered
undesirable and exhaust steam would l)e a nuisance, it could be con-
densed in an after-condenser and run into the cooling water system.

Fig. 2---Sbc~ing how ihe capzcity orld discharge

pressure vary with t h e suction pressure.

Performance of Steam Jet Ejectors

To the best knoxi-ledge of the autlior, no forrriula has yet been
derived which can rationnhze or explain the performance of steam jet
ejectors and ejector design t o date has been based on experimentation.
Manufacturers have mad? repeated tests on prototypes having various
proportions in their steam nozzle ancl diffusor forms to determine the
most desirable features. The writer is therefore unable to present a
formula which can be used generally to deternline the steam consump-
tions of ejectors of diffcrent capacitics and operating conditions. However,
the follov.ring general characteristics apply to any given ejector, irrespee-
tive of suction or discharge pressures. Curve A of Fig. 2 shows how
capacity varies with suction pressure. I t will be notcd that the capacity
alters considerably \v;r-itha small change in suction pressure. Curve B
shows the variation in discharge pressure wiih capacity for an ejector;
1955 TWENTY-SECOND CONtERENCE 223

oprating at rated steam flow and pressure. If the steam flow be altered
by changing the steam pressure or steam nozzle size, then the discharge
pressure is similarly altered. However, the capacity remains essentially
the same. Consequently, once an ejector has been installed its maximum
capacity is practically invariable, unless the inlet pressure is raised.
Therefore, in selecting an ejector for a particular purpose, it is important
that the minimum inlet pressure at which it is required to operate be
known and also the n~aximumload it is likely to carq- at that pressure.
For a range of ejectors all operating at their rated capacities and steam
flows, it is found that for particular conditions of steam pressure and
inlet pressure, the steam flow vanes directly as the capacity.
An ejector operates neither on a weight nor on a ~yolumebasis, but
somewhere in between them. Generally, however, the capacity of an
ejector is expressed in terms of pounds per hour of dry air and correction
factors are applied to determine its capacity when l~andlinggases or air
vapour mixtures of different molecular weights.
Table I shows the correction factors to be applied to air : water
vapour mixtures. For example, the correction factor for an air vapour
mixture (A.V.M.) containing 76 per cent. air by weight is 1.07, i.e., an
ejector which can handle 100 lb. per hour of dry air can handle only 100
divided by 1.07, that is, 93.4 Ib, per hour of an ,%.T'.M. containing 76 per
cent. air by weight. \Then an ejector is used to remove non-condensables
from a barometric condenser head, it is assumed that the air entering
the ejector is saturated with vapour at the ejector inlet pressure and
a t the temperature of the injection water. Consecluently, using tables or
graphs and knowing the temperature of the inlet air, it is possible to
determine the percentage of air in the mixture. The vapour correction.
factor can then be found from Table I.

TABLE I

/ Air
per cent.
1________--
1 0 i 2 /
--_I__--__.
4
l
6 '
l_________I-v, 8
I

To obtain maximum economy in steam when using ejectors it is

desirable to limit the conipression ratio per stage to between 8 and 10
to l. Therefore, for an ejector discharging to atmosphere (say 30 in.
Ng. abs.) the lowest desirable inlet pressure is 3 in. Hg. abs. This is
also approximately the lowest attainable pressure from a single stage
ejector operating on 90 p.s.i.g. steam pressure. It therefore requires
some investigation into local conditions ( h a ~ i n gin mind the practicable
operating costs and desired initial costs) to (leternline whether a single
224 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 1955
-p
-- .-- -

or two stage ejector unit is required in a sugar mill, as the figure of 3 in.
Hg. abs. is a t or about tlie operating pressure of pans and evaporators.
As single-stage, single-element ejectors are the simplest, their per-
formance and features will be used as a basis for comparison with other
units. Although there is no general formula which can express the
performance of ejectors, the following expression has been derived from
performance figures and covers tlie range of conditions normally experi-
enced in sugar millb. It applies to single stage ejectors only:
609U - - -1- - - 5 -1r,'j
(Ps--52)' (Pi-1.95) Pv-1.95
Where S - steam consumption in lb. per hr.
il =- ejector capacity in 117. per hr. of dry air.
PS == difterencr- betwen steam inlet and exhaust pressures in
p.s.i.g. (in general mithout after-condensers this is equal to
operating steam pressure in. p.s.i.g.).

N -
PC -= inlet pressure in in. Rg. abs.
constant for particular values of PS only.
ATvaries from 0.5 to 2 for values of Pc varying from SO-125
p.s.1.g.
This formula is vLulidonly for thc following conditions and is then correct
to about 5 per cent. : -
P'alues of PV bet~rern3 in. and G in. Hg. abs.
Values of PSbetween 80 and l25 p.s.i.g.
This formula is purely en~pi~ical, and has little relation to other operating
conditions, or to multi-stage wits. In fact we are unable liere to produce
any type of equation 1~11ichcoulcl forecast the performance of two stage
ejectors. However, it may be statecl that the steam requirement of a
txvo stage ejector unit cnmpletc with inter-condenser is about one-half
to one-third of that of a single stage ejector of equivalent capacity.
On the other bancl, its capital cost is higher than that of a single stage unit.
The follot\-inc practical examples of ejector selection will indicate
average units which I\-oulcl be necessary in a typical sugar mill. The
figures used for the c,tpacities arca based on those given in the following
section.
Selection of a Vacuum Pan Ejector Unit
The following conclitions arcaassumed :-
blinimum operating steam pressure .. . . 80 p.s.i.g
&Iaximumback preasurt7 . . .. .. .. l p.s.i.g.
bllnimum prcsssnr-cin condenser head . . . . 3 in. Hg. abs.
T701umeof condenser injection water . . . . 3000 lb. per min.
Temperature of condenser injection water . . 90" F.
TTolumeof vacuum pan . . . . . . .. 100Ocu.ft.
(i) Single stage t y c t o u . ---The ejector is assumed t o be required to
handle air equal to 13 per cent. of the volume of injection water,
measured at atmosplleric pressure, plus associated water vapour.
Volume of air at atmc~sphericpressure--

.-; 32.5 lb. per- Ili,ur of dry air.

 1955 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 225

From tables, air saturated at 3.0 in. Hg. abs. and at 90' F. contains
0.57 lb. of water per lb. of air, and the mixture contains 64 per cent. air
by weight. Therefore the total load to be handled
= 32.5 + 32.5 X 0.57
= 51 lb. per hour A.V.M.
From ~ a b @ I the required ejector capacity in terms of equivalent
dry air is 51 x 1.11, i.e., 57.6 lb. per hr. A single stage ejector having
this capacity would require approximately 750 lb. per hour of steam,
would be about 4 ft. in length and would weigh about 300 lb. Its
pump out time for an air-tight vessel of 1,000 cu. ft. volume would be
about 19 minutes, and its initial cost about one-quarter of that of an
equivalent vacuum pump, I t would appear that a "hogging" ejector
would be an advantage in this case in order to reduce the pump out time.
(ii) Two stage ejector with inter-condenser.-Using the same required
capacity and conditions as in (i), a two stage ejector with inter-condenser
would require about 300 lb. per hour of steam, and about 15 gal. per
min. cooling water.
Selection of an Evaporator Ejector
The following conditions are assumed:-
Minimum operating steam pressure .. .. 80 p.s.i.g.
Maximum back pressure . . . . . . . . 1 p.s.i.g.
Minimum pressure in condenser head . . .. 3 in. Hg. abs.
Volume of condenser injection water .. .. 20,000 lb. per min-
Maximum temperature of condenser injection
water . . .. .. . . . . . . 90" F.
(i) Single stage ejector.-The ejector is assumed to be required t o
handle air equal to 15 per cent. of the volume of injection water at
atmospheric pressure, plus associated water vapour.
Volume of air at atmos~hericDresure

From tables, the air contains 0.57 lb. of water per lb. of air and
the A.V.M. contains 64 per cent. air by weight. The vapour correction
factor from Table I is 1.11.
.'.required capacity = 50 X 1.11 c.f.m.
= 392 lb. per hour.
A single stage ejector installation would be a twin element unit,.
having a total steam consumption of about 5,000 lb. per hour, and a.
pump-out time for an air-tight vessel of 1,000 cu. ft. vdume of abaut
10 minutes. Each element would be about B ft. in length and each
would weigh about 500 lb.
(ii) Two Stage ejector.-A two stage ejector of the same capacity as.
that above, and complete with inter-condenser, would require about
1,800 lb. per hour of steam, and about 70 gal. per min. of cooling water,
It can be seen that a two stage ejector installation serving an
evaporator, would, in a mill crushing at the rate of 100 t.p.h., use less
than 2 per cent. of the total steam output of the mill.
 A comparison of costs of ejector units of equivalent capacity is
given in Table II, in which a single stage, single element ejector has
unit cost. Previously it has been stated that a two stage ejector unit,
complete with inter- and after-condensers, would cost approximately
50 per cent. of a bare vacuum pump of equivalent capacity. This, in
conjunction with Table 11, will be a guide to the relative 60sts of ejectors
and vacuum pumps.
TABLE 11,
-
t
, -p--- -
Type of ejector unit
-- --

1
-- - --

l
Unit ill

Single stage, single element .. .. .. . . 1I 1 l

I
1
i
Two stage .. ..
Two sFge with inter-condenser
.. ..
..
Two stage with inter- and after-condensers
..
..
. . li
..
.. 1
1
I
2
2.2
2.6
,1
i
1

l i

Estimation of Ejector Loads

Where an ejector is to replace a vacuum pump, it is a 'comparatively
simple matter to Wnyert the capacity of the pump---generally stated in
cubic feet per minute-to lb. per hr. of the air vapour mixture, provided
the intake conditions at the pump are known. Wou~ever,where there is

TABLE Ill.-Suggested air loads for steam jet ejectors-lb. per hr.
Required capacity (AVM) = air load +
associated vapour load. ' '

Vapour t o condenser-lb. per hr.

~ype

1
I

:l
l _ _ _ l l _ _ - l

:P 4 o r more 1 10
i
01
16
13 4 18:: 2 24 34 ::
45 69 110

1 Double 2

The above table is based on condenser injection water at 85' F. o r less.

no previous knowledge of a satisfactory pump capacity, it is necessary

to investigate the quantity of non-condensables to be handled. This is
made up, in any particular system, of air dissolved in condenser injection
water which is released under reduced pressure conditions, of leakage
through glands, joints, etc., and of non-conclensables released from the
1955 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 227
-- - ---- ---p
- --- - - - --- --

liquor in the vessel being evacuated. The latter are generally assumed
to be negligible and leakage and dissolved air in injection water taken
as the basis of the required capacity.
Table I11 gives capacities which have been found to be satisfactory
in overseas injector installations. I t is based principally on the air
released from injection water, but also allo\vs for the leakage wllic'tl
would occur in a vessel which is well maintained.

Air Pump Capacities

Investigations into effet sets in Queensland have lcd to the following
general rules :-
Air pump capacity varies as the volume of injection water and the
volume of air to be handled is 15-25 per cent. of the volume of
injection water, the air being measured at atmospheric pressure.
Air pump displacement in cubic feet per minute equals the total
heating surface of the effet divided by 28.6.
In both cases these are average figures and there is considerable
variation from this average from mill to mill.

Leakage Test .
The following test rnay be carried out to determine leakage into any
vessel, and is based on the fact that leakage continues at a constant rate
when the pressure within the vessel is less than about 15 in. Hg. abs.,
and atmospheric pressure exists outside it :-.--
The vessel is evacuated to about 4 in. Hg. abs.
The pump is stopped and the connecting valve between it and the
vessel closed.
The time for the pressure to rise by any given amount is observed
(provided the pressure in the vessel does not rise above 15 in. Hg.
abs.).
Leakage is calculated using the formula:-
L = 0.15 X V X P -.
T
where L .= leakage rate (lb. per hr.).
5' == volume of vessel (cu. ft.).
T = time in minutes for pressure to rise by P inches
of Hg.
An average figure commonly used for determining the quantity of
air released from injection water is 1.2 lb. per hour of air per 101) g.p.m.
of injection water. However, this depends on local conditions, par-
ticularly the injection water temperature and the degree of aeration of
the water.
Conclusion
In Australia, the steam jet ejector is not, as yet, widely used;
mainly it is believed because of lack of information about it, and perhaps
because of a natural hesitancy to use it in the face of already proven
alternative equipment,
228 TWENTY-SECOND CONFERENCE 1955
-- - - - - . - -- - -- . - -- - - -- -- -- - - -

This paper has attempted to indicate the principal advantages of

ejector units, and in particular their application in the Australian sugar
industry. In addition it has been stated that these units have been
proven in overseas industries of all types, and therefore can be used with
complete confidence. Insofar as their economic use is concerned, it has
been shown that the advantages of simplicity and low initial cost, plus
extremely low maintenance certainly warrant serious consideration, and
that the steam requirements of ejectors are well within the capacity of
the majority of Australian sugar mills. The use of ejectors is definitely
more than just within the bounds of possibility.
liegersoll-Rand (tlzkst.) E'tjv. Ltd.,