Abstract: The utilization of thermal compressors is an important way to exceed flexibility transformation of thermal power plants. The extreme ejection ability of thermal compressors is significant for the feasibility evaluation of transformation strategy. The present research conducts theoretical derivation of the related physical process inside the thermal compressor and builds a theoretical model for calculating the maximum entrainment ration. The results show that the present model can describe the ejection ability of the thermal compressor with satisfactory accuracy and application scope. Moreover, the results of the model calculation indicate that the ejection ability is enhanced with the increase of primary and suction steam pressure, but weakened by the increase of compressed steam pressure. The increase of primary steam pressure will promote the increase of entrainment ration while suction steam pressure does not affect the ejection ability.

Key words: thermal compressor, entrainment ratio, theoretical model, performance analysis