To reduce the energy consumption of a CO₂ ice-making system and improve system performance, this study proposes a transcritical CO₂ two-stage compression ejector expansion direct cooling ice-making system with complete intercooling (TCEIS). The effects of key parameters on system performance were analyzed by developing a thermodynamic model. Using this model, the COP_R+HR, annual power consumption, heat recovery capacity, annual operating cost, and heat recovery income of the system applied in different seasons and cities were evaluated and compared with those of a two-stage compression direct cooling ice-making system (TCS), a two-stage compression direct cooling ice-making system with complete intercooling (TCIS), and an ejector expansion direct cooling ice-making system (ES). The results show that TCEIS has the highest COP_R+HR considering heat recovery, with the advantages being noticeable in hot seasons and cities. When operating in Guangzhou with cooling loads of 410.989 kW in winter, 542.092 kW in transition seasons, and 701.353 kW in summer, the annual operation cost of TCEIS can be reduced by 107.6 thousand yuan, 397.9 thousand yuan, and 583.1 thousand yuan compared with those of TCIS, TCS, and ES, respectively. This study provides a theoretical reference for the construction and application of CO₂ direct-cooling ice-making systems.

The motive flow state in a transcritical CO₂ ejector significantly affects its performance. The heat transfer on the wall of the motive nozzle can change the motive flow state, and its effect on the performance of the ejector should be studied. A CFD model of the transcritical CO₂ two-phase ejector is constructed based on the homogeneous equilibrium model. The influence of heat transfer in the nozzle divergence section on the performance and flow field structure of the transcritical CO₂ two-phase ejector is simulated. The effect of heat transfer on the system performance of using a split ejector at the condenser outlet is analyzed. The results show that the entrainment ratio of the ejector increases with an increase in the heat flux at the nozzle divergence section and the length of the nozzle divergence section. The effect is not obvious and can be ignored under a moderate heat flux, i.e. less than 120 kW/m² since the entrainment ratio changes within 1%. In addition, the heat transfer in the nozzle divergence section has a slight effect on the internal flow field of the ejector. The temperature of the internal flow in the nozzle divergence section increases slightly, the vapor quality at the ejector outlet rises slightly, and the Mach numbers of the mixed flow at the nozzle outlet and in the mixing chamber increase. In the condenser outlet split ejector expansion refrigeration system, the fluid is subcooled using the ejector, and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system is significantly improved, with a maximum COP increase ratio of 8.89%. In general, heating the divergence section of the motive nozzle of the ejector exerts minimal effect on its performance. However, it significantly improves the performance of the condenser outlet split-ejector expansion refrigeration system.