On the steady‐state modelling of a two‐stage evaporator system

We develop and validate against experimental measurements a steady‐state two‐stage flooded refrigerant evaporator model for a heat pump drying system. A prototype two‐stage heat pump dryer test facility was designed, built and instrumented to provide the required measurements for the validation of the model. Repeatability and data quality tests were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of measurements. Experimental data could be reproduced to within ±6.5 per cent of replicated air and refrigerant side measurements for the same evaporator's air inlet conditions while the discrepancy of energy balance at the air‐side and refrigerant‐side was observed to be within ±8.9 per cent. The two‐stage evaporator model predicted the air‐side total heat and latent heat transfer of the two‐stage evaporator to within (?6.3 per cent, 7.6 per cent) and (?11.5 per cent, 9.5 per cent), respectively. On the refrigerant‐side, the model enabled the calculation of the degree of superheat to within (?10.6 per cent, 1.7 per cent). The model has shown that there is significant improvement in the heat recovered from a two‐stage evaporator system compared to a single evaporator system. In addition, the model demonstrated that the improvement in total heat recovery could be as high as 40 per cent over its base‐value when the latent to total load at the two‐stage evaporator is increased. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

内燃机尾气余热驱动有机朗肯蒸汽压缩制冷循环的研究

设计了以内燃机尾气余热为热源驱动的有机朗肯蒸气压缩制冷循环系统。根据热力学定律,建立了循环系统的数学模型,提出了尾气换热夹点确定方法。以Matlab和Refprop软件为工具,研究了有机朗肯循环(organic Rankine cycle,ORC)各换热器负荷、做功量、热效率分别随蒸发压力、冷凝温度的变化关系,并确定了最优工质。研究了蒸汽压缩制冷循环(vapor compression refrigeration,VCR)各换热器负荷、制冷系数分别随蒸发温度、冷凝温度的变化关系。由于压缩比的限制,确定了多种制冷工质在不同冷凝温度下的最低蒸发温度,结合相关标准中所规定的各型冷藏车蒸发温度的范围,确定了各型冷藏车的可选制冷剂。研究了与可选工质对应的制冷系数随蒸发温度的变化关系,从而确定最优工质。计算了各型冷藏车在采用最优制冷剂时,在最严苛工况下的制冷量、制冷系数及综合系数。     

Influence of magnetic field on two‐phase flow convective boiling of some refrigerant mixtures

In this paper, an experimental study on the influence of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) on heat transfer characteristics of two‐phase flow boiling of some refrigerant mixtures in air/refrigerant horizontal enhanced surface tubing is presented. Correlations were proposed to predict the impact of MHD on the heat transfer characteristics such as average heat transfer coefficients, and pressure drops of R‐507, R‐404A, R‐410A, and R‐407C in two‐phase flow boiling inside enhanced surface tubing. In addition, it was found that the refrigerant mixture's pressure drop is a weak function of the mixture's composition. It was also evident that the proposed correlations for predicting the heat transfer characteristics were applicable to the entire heat and mass flux, investigated in the present study. The deviation between the experimental and predicted value using new and improved correlations for the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were less than ±20%, for the majority of data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance prediction of a refrigerating machine using R‐407C: the effect of the circulating composition on system performance

This article presents a steady‐state model of a vapour compression refrigerating machine using a ternary refrigerant mixture R‐407C. When using a zeotropic mixture in a refrigerant cycle, the circulating composition does not agree with the composition of the original charged mixture. It is mainly due to the temperature glide and the vapour–liquid slip ratio. As a result of the composition shift and its magnitude, the system performance changes depending on the system design, especially the presence of liquid receiving vessels. In this paper, a method that predicts the circulating composition has been associated to a refrigerating machine model. The results obtained with this model show an enrichment in the most volatile components of about 1% for the circulating composition, which is sufficient to decrease the system performance by about 3%. Factors affecting the overall performance have been investigated. The results show a very strong performance dependence on the refrigerant charge. The COP can decrease by 25% when the refrigerant charge is insufficient. An initial charged composition variation of 2% involves variations of the cooling capacity of about 5%. Furthermore, our model was employed to compare the performance for both R‐22 and R‐407C. The cooling capacity for R‐22 is slightly greater in comparison to R‐407C and the COP is almost constant. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance evaluation of heat exchanger using alternative refrigerant R407C

R22 (HCFC22) has been widely used as the refrigerant in air conditioners. According to the Montreal protocol for ozone layer protection, the total production of HCFCs has been capped since the beginning of 1996. Zeotropic refrigerant mixture R407C and nearly azeotropic refrigerant mixture R410A have been selected as alternatives to R22. We examined refrigerant passages in heat exchangers used in heat pump‐type room air conditioners using zeotropic refrigerant R407C through simulation, and obtained the following conclusions. In an indoor heat exchanger, a counter flow configuration when operating as a condenser has higher temperature efficiency. When an outdoor heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, a configuration that suppresses the temperature glide by partially reducing the refrigerant passage not only produces high efficiency, but also reduces the frost formation on fins. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 626–638, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10064     

Modelling of an ethanol‐water distillation column assisted by an external heat pump

This paper presents a simulation of an ethanol–water distillation column assisted by a vapour‐compression heat pump. The heat pump is of the external type, i.e., it uses a working fluid (refrigerant) different from that of the column. A simulation model was developed and four different working fluids were studied: R‐11 and R‐114 and, as substitutes, the column own fluids, water and ethanol. Results from the simulation model have shown that considerable reduction in energy consumption can be achieved with the installation of a heat pump. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of heat exchanger capacity by thermal network method (Influence of thermal conduction in fins on capacity of a condenser)

This paper describes the influence of heat flow from high‐temperature refrigerant to low‐temperature refrigerant through fins by thermal conduction. To estimate that influence, we applied a thermal network method that can consider refrigerant quality distribution in the heat exchanger. At the same time, for verifying the estimation, an experiment was performed with a two‐row, two‐pass heat exchanger. Prediction shows that the heat transfer capacity of a condenser is reduced by 3% for a simple two‐row, two‐pass heat exchanger by heat conduction in fins. Comparison of experimental results and predicted results proves that the prediction error was within 1% for condenser capacity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 37(2): 101–114, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20184     

Heat transfer prediction of air‐to‐refrigerant two‐phase flow boiling of alternatives to HCFC‐22 inside air/refrigerant enhanced surface tubing

In this paper, an experimental study on the heat transfer characteristics of two‐phase flow boiling of some alternative refrigerants to HCFC‐22, on air/refrigerant horizontal enhanced surface tubing, is presented. Correlations have been proposed to predict the heat transfer characteristics such as average heat transfer coefficients, as well as pressure drops of alternatives to R‐22; such as R‐507, R‐404A, R‐407C, R‐410A and R‐408A in two‐phase flow boiling inside enhanced surface tubing. In addition, it was found that the refrigerant mixture's pressure drop is a weak function of the mixture's composition. It was found that the correlations were applicable to the entire heat and mass flux, investigated in the present study, for the proposed blends under question. The deviation between the experimental and predicted values for the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were less than ±20, and ±35 per cent, respectively, for the majority of data. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two kinds of gravitational ejector refrigerator stimulation

Temperatures and levels of refrigerant in the heat exchangers of a gravitational ejector refrigerant make a combined system of numerous mutual couplings. It has some significant properties of self-regulation. There are three kinds of reaction on the self-regulation system of the refrigerator: thermal-type when it is stimulated by changing the temperature of exchangers surrounding, ejector-type stimulated by changing the ejector’s geometry or refrigerant kind, volume-type stimulated by changing the amount of refrigerant. The predicting of a specific reaction of a system balance is difficult but it may be obtained by a mathematical model and calculating experiments.     

Forced convective condensation and boiling of ternary non-azeotropic refrigerant mixtures inside water/refrigerant enhanced surface tubing

In this paper, an experimental study on the heat transfer characteristics of two-phase flow condensation and boiling of ternary non-azeotropic refrigerant mixtures, on water/refrigerant horizontal enhanced surface tubing, is presented. The enhanced surface tubing data showed a significant enhancement of the heat transfer compared to an equivalent smooth tube depending on the mixture components and their concentrations. Correlations were proposed to predict the heat transfer characteristics such as average heat transfer coefficients, as well as pressure drops of ternary non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture flow condensation, and boiling inside enhanced surface tubing. In addition, it was found that the refrigerant mixture's pressure drop is a weak function of the mixture's composition.     

Performance enhancement of some alternatives to R‐502

The results of an experimental study on the behaviour of some new alternatives to R‐502 using heated suction accumulator are presented. The experimental set up was composed of a fully instrumented air–source heat pump with a capacity of 12000 BTUH and equipped with a heated suction accumulator. The refrigerant temperatures were varied at the evaporator entrance to simulate various extreme conditions encountered in air–source heat pump applications. The primary parameters observed during the course of this study were mass flux, heat flux, quality evaporator and condenser thermal capacities, power consumed and pressure ratios for the azeotropic refrigerant mixtures under investigation. The test results showed that a heated suction accumulator enhanced the evaporation of more volatile component of ternary azeotropic refrigerant mixtures. Thus, increasing the mixture thermal capacity as well as the COP. Furthermore, experiments have also shown capacity increases of 27 per cent with a heat accumulator over an unheated accumulator at −15°C outside air temperatures. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Boiling heat transfer coefficient of R22 and an HFC/HC refrigerant mixture in a fin‐and‐tube evaporator of a window air conditioner

The commonly used refrigerant in unitary type air conditioners is R22 and its phase out schedule in developing countries is to commence from 2015. Many alternatives to R22 are found in published literature in which R407C has similar characteristics to those of R22 except for its zeotropic nature. However, R407C which is an HFC is made compatible with the mineral oil lubricant in the system compressor by the addition of 20% of HC. This HFC/HC mixture called the M20 refrigerant mixture is reported to be a retrofit refrigerant for R22. Though its latent heat value is greater than that of R22, its refrigerating capacity is lower when it is used to retrofit R22 window air conditioners. Hence, a heat transfer analysis was conducted in the evaporator of a room air conditioner, for practically realized heat flux conditions during standard performance testing. The tests were conducted as per the BIS and ASHRAE standards. Kattan–Thome–Favrat maps are used to confirm the flow patterns, which prevail inside the fin‐and‐tube evaporator in the tested operating conditions. It is revealed that the heat transfer coefficient/heat fluxes are poorer for M20 because of the lower mass flow rate and higher vapor fraction at the entry of the evaporator than that of R22 in the prevailing operating conditions. The heat transfer coefficients of the M20 refrigerant mixture under various test conditions are lower in the range of 14% to 56% than those of R22. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20299     

Non-adiabatic capillary tube flow: a homogeneous model and process description

This paper presents a homogeneous model of refrigerant flow through capillary tube–suction line heat exchangers, which are widely used in small vapour compression refrigeration systems. The homogeneous model is based on fundamental conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy. These equations are solved simultaneously through iterative process. Churchill’s correlation [3] is used to calculate single-phase friction factors and Lin et al. [6] correlation for two-phase friction factors. The single-phase heat transfer coefficient is calculated by Gnielinski’s equation [5] while two-phase flow heat transfer coefficient is assumed to be infinite. The model is validated with previous experimental and analytical results. The present model can be used in either design calculation (calculate the capillary tube length for given refrigerant mass flow rate) or simulation calculation (calculate the refrigerant mass flow rate for given capillary tube length). The simulation model is used to understand the refrigerant flow behaviour inside the non-adiabatic capillary tubes.     

A flexible numerical model to study an active magnetic refrigerator for near room temperature applications

Magnetic refrigeration is an emerging technology based on the magnetocaloric effect in solid-state refrigerants. This technology offers a smaller global environmental impact than the refrigeration obtained by means of the classical vapor compression machines operating with fluids such as HFCs. The Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigeration (AMRR) is currently the most studied ant tested magnetic cycle. It combines the regenerative properties of a high specific heat solid porous matrix with the ability of performing thermo-magnetic cycles thanks to the magnetocaloric property of the refrigerant; while a fluid pulsing through the regenerator works as a heat transfer medium. An active magnetic regenerator can provide larger temperature spans making up for the local small temperature variation of the refrigerant. In the present paper, a practical model for predicting the performance and efficiency of an AMRR cycle has been developed. The model evaluates both the refrigerant properties and the entire cycle of an AMR operating in conformity with a Brayton regenerative cycle. The magnetocaloric material of choice is gadolinium, while the heat transfer medium is liquid water. With this model can be predicted the refrigeration capacity, the power consumption and consequently the Coefficient of Performance. The results show a greater COP when compared to a classical vapor compression plant working between the same temperature levels.     

Transport of cold thermal energy with a slurry as secondary biphasic refrigerant

A dispersion of phase‐change materials is proposed as an experimental biphasic refrigerant. The phase‐change material is water stabilized by a tri‐dimensional network of polymer, obtained by using a polymerizing process. The particle contains 90 per cent of water and has the consistency of a viscoelastic solid above the phase‐change temperature. The measured values of the physical properties of the biphasic refrigerant, that is, specific heat, latent heat, density and viscosity, are presented and discussed for the considered temperature range. A supercooling phenomena is observed if the size of the particles becomes lower than 1 mm. The degree of supercooling however does not exceed 3°C. The various advantages of this slurry are presented and the comparison with a common single‐phase carrier fluid has proved how great its properties are as a secondary refrigerant. This material appears well adapted for a wide variety of schemes where the production involves low‐temperature intervals, such as the refrigeration industry. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neural networks—a new approach to model vapour‐compression heat pumps

The aim of this paper is to model the steady‐state performance of a vapour‐compression liquid heat pump with the use of neural networks. The model uses a generalized radial basis function (GRBF) neural network. Its input vector consists only of parameters that are easily measurable, i.e. the chilled water outlet temperature from the evaporator, the cooling water inlet temperature to the condenser and the evaporator capacity. The model then predicts relevant performance parameters of the heat pump, especially the coefficient of performance (COP). Models are developed for three different refrigerants, namely LPG, R22 and R290. It is found that not every model achieves the same accuracy. Predicted COP values, when LPG or R22 are used as refrigerant, are usually accurate to within 2 per cent, whereas many predictions for R290 deviate more than ±10 per cent. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of thermophysical properties on two-phase flow convective boiling of refrigerant mixtures

In this paper, an analytical study on the influence of thermophysical properties on heat transfer characteristics of two-phase flow boiling of some refrigerant mixtures in air/refrigerant horizontal enhanced surface tubing is presented.Correlations were proposed to predict the thermophysical properties of refrigerant mixtures such as thermal conductivity and viscosity as well as their impact on the heat transfer characteristics such as average heat transfer coefficients, and pressure drops of R-507, R-404A, R-410A, and R-407C in two-phase flow boiling inside enhanced surface tubing. In addition, it was found that the refrigerant mixture's pressure drop is a weak function of the mixture's composition.It was also evident that the proposed improved correlations for predicting the thermophysical properties were applicable to the entire heat and mass flux, investigated in the present study. The deviation between the experimental and predicted value using new and improved correlations for the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were <±20 %, for the majority of data.     

Behaviour of ternary blends in heated suction accumulator

The results of an experimental study on the behaviour of azeotropic ternary refrigerant mixtures in heated suction accumulator are presented. The experiment set up was composed of a fully instrumented air‐source heat pump with a capacity of 36 000 BTUH and equipped with a heated suction accumulator. Standard test conditions were used at the condenser inlet; however, the refrigerant temperatures were varied at the evaporator entrance from 2 to −40°C, to simulate various conditions encountered in extreme air‐source heat pump applications. The primary parameters observed during the course of this study were mass flux, heat flux, and quality, evaporator and condenser thermal capacities, and power consumed and pressure ratios for the azeotropic refrigerant mixtures under investigation. The test results showed that heated suction accumulators enhance the evaporation of the more volatile component of ternary azeotropic refrigerant mixtures. Thus, increasing the mixture thermal capacity as well as the coefficient of performance (COP). Furthermore, experiments have also shown capacity increases of 27% with heated accumulator over unheated accumulator at −30°C outside air temperatures. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical analysis on a microchannel evaporator designed for CO2 air-conditioning systems

A microchannel heat exchanger was numerically analyzed using the finite volume method. The air and refrigerant-side heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops were calculated using the existing correlations that were developed for microchannel heat exchangers. To verify the present model, performance tests of the microchannel heat exchanger were conducted at various test conditions with R134a. The present model yielded a good correlation with the measured heat transfer rate, demonstrating a mean deviation of 6.8%. The performance of the microchannel evaporator for CO₂ systems can be improved by varying the refrigerant flow rate to each slab and changing fin space to increase the two-phase region in the microchannel. Based on the comparison of the performance of the microchannel heat exchanger with that of the fin-tube heat exchanger designed for CO₂ systems, it was proposed that the arrangement of the slabs and inlet air velocity in the microchannel heat exchanger need to be optimized by considering heat exchanger size, air outlet conditions and required capacity.     

Simulation and performance evaluation of finned-tube CO2 gas coolers for refrigeration systems

This paper describes a detailed mathematical model and its application for air-cooled finned-tube CO₂ gas coolers. The model has been developed utilizing a distributed method which is necessary to predict accurately the great variation of both refrigerant thermophysical properties and local heat transfer coefficients during CO₂ gas cooling processes. The modelling method also enables performance analyses with different circuit arrangements and changed structure parameters in gas coolers to be assessed. The model has been validated with the test results from a published literature by comparing the gas temperature profiles along the coil pipes from refrigerant inlet to outlet at different operating states. With the aim of increasing the heat capacity or minimizing the approach temperature for a gas cooler, the validated model is used to carry out performance simulation and analysis when the circuit arrangement of the original heat exchanger is redesigned. It is found that the approach temperature and the heat capacity are both improved with the increase of heat exchanger circuit numbers.