How Do Ejectors Work

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Frequently Asked Questions
Question
How do Ejectors Work?
Answer
Operation of Ejectors is based upon Bernoulli’s Principle which states: -
‘When the speed of a fluid increases its pressure decreases and vice versa’.
The principle is demonstrated by air moving over the top of a piece of paper is moving quicker
than the air underneath. Thus, the local pressure on the top surface of the paper is less than
on the underside. The resulting pressure imbalance causes the paper to rise.

First Diagram
Shows a length of pipe which includes a valve. The pipe is arranged to discharge to atmosphere. At the point of discharge there is a
restriction (or a nozzle). The upstream side of the pipe is connected to a pressure source. The valve is closed so there is no flow.
Upstream of the valve there is pressure energy. The arrangement is very similar to that of a garden hose connected to a domestic
water tap.

Second Diagram
When the valve is opened the fluid can pass through the pipe and discharged out of the end. Because there is a nozzle at the discharge of the pipe, we can make the following
observations:-
a) There is a pressure on the upstream side of the nozzle.
b) A jet of fluid, moving faster than the fluid within the pipe, emerges from the nozzle.
So, on the upstream side of the nozzle there is high pressure and low velocity and at the nozzle discharge there is low pressure and
high velocity.
The nozzle has converted the pressure energy available upstream of the nozzle into kinetic (or velocity) energy.
Now, if we were able to see the surrounding air in the region of the nozzle discharge, we would see that there would be eddy currents
of air, circulating around the jet. In other words, the jet of fluid emerging from the nozzle has imparted some of it’s kinetic energy onto
the surrounding air.

Third Diagram
If we then placed a tube with open ends around the area of the nozzle discharge, we would see that the eddy currents had
disappeared and that they had been replaced by a steady flow of air moving through the tube, in a direction from left to right, as shown
in the diagram.


Fourth Diagram
If we then blank off the upstream end of the tube and added a side inlet, we would see that the air would be sucked in through the side
inlet and discharged from the end of the tube. We now have a simple device that is capable of pumping the surrounding gas. This is a
very basic form of an Ejector.


Summary
The ‘device’ we have created uses the available pressure energy in a fluid to do work on (pump) a secondary fluid.
Ejector Design
This diagram shows the basic components of an Ejector used in the Oil and Gas industry.
This Ejector was designed for use with gas. It has similarities with the “basic” Ejector developed on the previous slide.
These are:-
There are three connections. One for the high pressure fluid, one for the gas sucked in (or entrained) and one
for the discharge.
1.
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The gas entrained comes in at the side. 2.
There is a nozzle for converting the pressure energy of the high pressure fluid into kinetic energy. 3.
The biggest difference between this and the previous slide is the venturi shape towards the discharge end of the Ejector. This part is called the Diffuser.
The Diffuser is designed to firstly mix the two incoming streams. Then, when mixing is complete, the diverging section slows the mixture down, thereby increasing it’s pressure.
This is the reverse of the process occurring in the nozzle. This feature enables the Ejector to discharge at a pressure that is greater than that at the suction branch. Thus, the
Ejector is capable of compressing or boosting the pressure of the fluid entrained.
Summary
Ejectors use a high pressure fluid to compress low pressure fluid to an intermediate pressure.
Other Terminology
Ejectors are also often referred to as Jet Pumps or Eductors, but in gas production they are commonly referred to as Gas Ejectors
and in oil production, Jet Pumps.
See other FAQ's
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Telephone: +44 (0)1773 83 11 00 Facsimile: +44 (0)1773 83 11 23 E-mail: [email protected]
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