Improving the Performance of a Bent Ejector With Inlet Swirl

Ejectors are commonly employed in gas turbine exhaust systems for reasons such as space ventilation and IR suppression. Ejectors may incorporate bends in the geometry for various reasons. Studies have shown that the bend has a deteriorating effect on the performance of an ejector. This work was aimed to investigate the effect of exhaust gas swirl on improving the performance of a bent ejector. Four short oblong ejectors with different degrees of bend in the mixing tube and four swirl conditions were tested in this study. The primary nozzle, in all cases, was composed of a circular to oblong transition. Testing was performed at ambient and hot primary flow with $0deg$⁠, $10deg$⁠, $20deg$⁠, and $30deg$ swirl angles. It was observed that the swirl had a strong affect on the performance of a bent ejector. Improvement of up to 55%, 96%, and 180% was obtained in the pumping ratio, pressure rise, and total efficiency, respectively, with a $20deg$ swirl in the exhaust gas.