Refrigerant R134a vaporisation heat transfer and pressure drop inside a small brazed plate heat exchanger

This paper presents the experimental heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop measured during refrigerant R134a vaporisation inside a small brazed plate heat exchanger (BPHE): the effects of heat flux, refrigerant mass flux, saturation temperature and outlet conditions are investigated. The BPHE tested consists of 10 plates, 72 mm in width and 310 mm in length, which present a macro-scale herringbone corrugation with an inclination angle of 65° and corrugation amplitude of 2 mm.The experimental results are reported in terms of refrigerant side heat transfer coefficients and frictional pressure drop. The heat transfer coefficients show great sensitivity both to heat flux and outlet conditions and weak sensitivity to saturation temperature. The frictional pressure drop shows a linear dependence on the kinetic energy per unit volume of the refrigerant flow.The experimental heat transfer coefficients are also compared with two well-known correlations for nucleate pool boiling and a correlation for frictional pressure drop is proposed.     

Effect of tube diameter on boiling heat transfer and flow characteristic of refrigerant R32 in horizontal small-diameter tubes

This study investigated the effect of tube diameter on flow boiling characteristics of refrigerant R32 in horizontal small-diameter tubes with 1.0, 2.2, and 3.5 mm inner diameters. The boiling heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were measured at 15 °C saturation temperature. The effects of mass velocity, heat flux, quality, and tube diameter were clarified. The flow pattern of R32 for adiabatic two-phase flow in a horizontal glass tube with an inner diameter of 3.5 mm at saturation temperature of 15 °C was investigated. Flow patterns such as plug, wavy, churn, and annular flows were observed. The heat transfer mechanisms of forced convection and nucleate boiling were similar to those in conventional-diameter tubes. In addition, evaporation heat transfer through a thin liquid film in the plug flow region for low quality, mass velocity, and heat flux was observed. The heat transfer coefficient increased with decreasing tube diameter under the same experimental condition. The fictional pressure drop increased with increasing mass velocity and quality and decreasing tube diameter. The experimental values of the heat transfer coefficient and frictional pressure drop were compared with the values calculated by the empirical correlations in the open literature.     

HFC404A condensation inside a small brazed plate heat exchanger: Comparison with the low GWP substitutes propane and propylene

This paper compares HFC404A and two possible hydrocarbon substitutes HC290 (propane) and HC1270 (propylene) in condensation inside a commercial brazed plate heat exchanger (BPHE) at saturation temperatures between 25 and 40 °C. The effects of saturation temperature (pressure), refrigerant mass flux, and vapour super-heating on heat transfer and hydraulic performances are investigated. The transition between gravity dominated and forced convection condensation occurs at a mass flux around 20 kg m⁻² s⁻¹. In forced convection condensation a doubling of the refrigerant mass flux produces a 30% enhancement of the heat transfer coefficient. The condensation heat transfer coefficients of super-heated vapour are 5–10% higher than those of saturated vapour. Propane and propylene exhibit condensation heat transfer coefficients 25–45% higher and frictional pressure drops similar to those of HFC404A under comparable operating conditions. Therefore both propane and propylene are very promising as low GWP definitive substitutes for HFC404A in industrial and commercial refrigeration.     

R134a臣卧式螺旋管内流动沸腾换热特性实验研究

对R134a在水平直管和螺旋管内的沸腾换热特性进行了实验研究.在三个不同的蒸发温度(5℃、10℃和20℃),工质R134a的质量流量范围为100～400kg/(m~2·s)和干度范围为0.1～0.8的条件下,实验得到了R134a在水平直管和螺旋管内的沸腾换热系数随其质量流量和干度的变化关系,将水平直管和螺旋管内的沸腾换热特性数据进行了比较,结果显示,在实验条件下,卧式螺旋管的传热系数比直管的平均增加13.7%.     

HFO1234ze(E) vaporisation inside a Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger (BPHE): Comparison with HFC134a and HFO1234yf

This paper investigates the effects of heat flux, saturation temperature, and outlet conditions on HFO1234ze(E) boiling inside a Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger (BPHE). The effect of the heat flux on the heat transfer coefficients was remarkable. Similar consideration applies for outlet condition effects whereas the impact of saturation temperature was found to be lower. The frictional pressure drop shows a linear dependence on the refrigerant kinetic energy per unit volume. The two-phase flow boiling heat transfer coefficients were compared with a new model for refrigerant boiling inside BPHE (Longo et al., 2015): the mean absolute percentage deviation between calculated and experimental data is 7.2%. The present data points were compared with those of HFC134a and HFO1234yf previously measured inside the same BPHE under the same operating conditions: HFO1234ze(E) exhibits heat transfer coefficients very similar to HFC134a and HFO1234yf and frictional pressure drops slightly higher than HFC134a and HFO1234yf.     

含油制冷剂在泡沫金属圆管内流动沸腾的换热特性

实验研究了填充泡沫金属的圆管内制冷剂与润滑油混合物流动沸腾换热特性。实验对象为两根分别填充5PPI、90%孔隙率与10PPI、90%孔隙率泡沫铜的圆管,以及相同管径的光管。实验工况为蒸发压力995kPa,质流密度为10~30 kg/(m2.s),热流密度为3.1~9.3kW/m2,入口干度0.175~0.775,油浓度为0~5%。实验结果表明:纯制冷剂工况下,泡沫金属的存在强化流动沸腾换热,换热系数最多提高185%;含油工况下,泡沫金属强化换热的效果弱化;相同工况下,更小的孔径可以提高流动沸腾换热系数,相比5PPI泡沫金属的实验数据,10PPI的泡沫金属可以使换热系数最多提高0.6倍。基于流型建立了填充泡沫金属的圆管内制冷剂与润滑油流动沸腾换热系数的预测模型,预测模型与98%的实验数据误差在±30%以内。     

Refrigerant R134a condensation heat transfer and pressure drop inside a small brazed plate heat exchanger

This paper presents the experimental tests on HFC-134a condensation inside a small brazed plate heat exchanger: the effects of refrigerant mass flux, saturation temperature and vapour super-heating are investigated.A transition point between gravity controlled and forced convection condensation has been found for a refrigerant mass flux around 20 kg/m² s. For refrigerant mass flux lower than 20 kg/m² s, the saturated vapour heat transfer coefficients are not dependent on mass flux and are well predicted by the Nusselt [Nusselt, W., 1916. Die oberflachenkondensation des wasserdampfes. Z. Ver. Dt. Ing. 60, 541–546, 569–575] analysis for vertical surface. For refrigerant mass flux higher than 20 kg/m² s, the saturated vapour heat transfer coefficients depend on mass flux and are well predicted by the Akers et al. [Akers, W.W., Deans, H.A., Crosser, O.K., 1959. Condensing heat transfer within horizontal tubes. Chem. Eng. Prog. Symp. Ser. 55, 171–176] equation. In the forced convection condensation region, the heat transfer coefficients show a 30% increase for a doubling of the refrigerant mass flux. The condensation heat transfer coefficients of super-heated vapour are 8–10% higher than those of saturated vapour and are well predicted by the Webb [Webb, R.L., 1998. Convective condensation of superheated vapour. ASME J. Heat Transfer 120, 418–421] model. The heat transfer coefficients show weak sensitivity to saturation temperature. The frictional pressure drop shows a linear dependence on the kinetic energy per unit volume of the refrigerant flow and therefore a quadratic dependence on the refrigerant mass flux.     

Measurement of spray boiling refrigerant coefficients in an integral-fin tube bundle segment simulating a full bundle

Outside (refrigerant) boiling coefficients for a combination of spray and drip boiling for a low pressure refrigerant have been obtained from overall heat transfer coefficients in a 1024 fins per meter tube bundle segment. The tubes were heated by water on the inside; liquid refrigerant was sprayed and/or dripped on the outside. Also, refrigerant vapor was supplied at the bottom of the bundle segment. This configuration simulates an actual flooded evaporator under spray boiling conditions. The dripping corresponds to liquid film falling from upper rows while the inlet vapor is equivalent to the vaporized refrigerant rising from lower tubes; the refrigerant vapor can influence heat transfer performance by the combined effects of gas convection and liquid shear on the tubes. For a nominal heat flux of 23,975 W/m², a bundle average outside heat transfer coefficient of 8522 W/m² °C, based on nominal tube outer diameter, was found at an average bundle vapor mass flux equal to 12.4 kg/s m². The distributor plate below the bundle enhanced the heat transfer, especially at lower vapor mass fluxes, by providing a level of liquid hold-up just below the bottom tube row.     

Prediction of in-tube condensation heat transfer characteristics of binary refrigerant mixtures

This study presents a prediction model for the condensation heat transfer characteristics of binary zeotropic refrigerant mixtures inside horizontal smooth tubes. In this model, both the vapor-side and liquid-side mass transfers are considered, and the high flux mass transfer correction factor is used to evaluate mass transfer coefficients. The model was applied to the binary zeotropic refrigerant mixture R134a/R123, which has a large temperature glide. Calculation results showed that the heat transfer degradation of R134a/R123 due to gradients in the mass fraction and temperature is considerable, and depends on the mass fraction of the more volatile component and the vapor mass quality of the refrigerant mixture. By comparison with experimental data, incorporating the present finite mass transfer model for the liquid film side into the calculation algorithm was shown to reasonably well predict the condensation heat transfer coefficients of binary refrigerant mixtures with the mean deviation of about 10.3%. In the present calculations, however, it was also found that the high flux mass transfer correction factor had only a slight effect on the condensation heat transfer.     

R134a表面增强型蒸发强化传热管的实验研究

介绍了国外空调冷冻设备中采用的一种新型商用表面增强型蒸发强化传热管,并对其进行了实验研究.发现对使用R134a环保制冷工质,在低热流密度的条件下,表面增强型蒸发强化传热管具有十分优异的强化效果.在实验的换热工况下,保持进口水温不变而改变管内水流速,这种强化管的总换热性能是普通低翅蒸发强化管的 2.2到2.6倍,管外换热系数是普通低翅蒸发强化管的1.3～1.9倍.     

A research on the dryout characteristics of CO2'S flow boiling heat transfer process in mini-channels

The experimental and theoretical researches have been carried out to get the flow boiling heat transfer characteristics of carbon dioxide (CO₂ or R744) as a refrigerant in horizontal mini-channel. Based on infrared thermal imaging tests and experimental studies on heat transfer coefficients, the heat transfer coefficients and dryout characteristics of CO₂ are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in following conditions: Heat flux: 2~35 kW m^-2, Mass flux: 50~1350 kg m^-2 s^-1, saturation temperature: −10~15 °C, mini-channel inner diameter: 1 mm and 2 mm. Primary conclusions can be drawn from the results of the experiments: The increase of heat flux enhances the nucleate boiling heat transfer of the refrigerant inside mini-channel, which leads to the remarkable increase of heat transfer coefficient. But it speeds up the process of dryout. It also has a certain influence on vapor qualities of dryout at both the starting and the ending stage. The effect of mass flux on heat transfer enhancement depends on the dominant heat transfer mode in the tube. With the increase of mass flow rate, the vapor quality at the start of dryout has a decreasing trend. But the heat transfer coefficient increases at the end of dryout process or even after dryout process; the heat transfer coefficient does not vary monotonically with the saturation temperature: when the saturation temperature is high and even close to CO₂'s critical temperature, the heat transfer coefficient increases with the increase of saturation temperature; when the saturation temperature is low, the heat transfer coefficient increases with the decrease of saturation temperature. Besides, during the heat transfer process, the dryout vapor quality falls monotonically with the increase of saturation temperature. It is reasonable to conclude that dryout characteristics have significant influence on heat transfer coefficient. Fang correlation that predicts the heat transfer coefficient of CO₂ is in good agreement with the experimental data, which has a mean absolute deviation of 15.7%, and predicts 71.98% of the entire database within ±20% and 86.84% of the entire database within ±30%.     

R404A在小管径管内流动沸腾换热特性研究

R404A在小管径管内的流动沸腾换热过程是一个极其复杂的物理现象。目前对R404A换热特性的研究大多集中在大管径上,对小管径换热特性的研究较少,且对不同实验现象的机理分析也不尽相同。因此R404A在小管径管内换热特性的理论研究仍需要大量具体的实验数据来支撑。本文通过搭建小管径内螺纹铜管蒸发实验台,研究R404A在小管径管内流动沸腾换热过程中不同热流密度、不同蒸发干度、不同质流密度、不同饱和温度对表面传热系数的影响,研究表明:热流密度、干度、质流密度、饱和温度均对R404A在小管径管内换热特性的影响较大,干涸现象发生前后这些因素产生的影响也不同。此外,这些因素对管内干涸现象发生的起始干度、沸腾主要换热形式以及干涸现象是否发生具有直接影响。     

矩形微通道内制冷剂流动沸腾传热特性及可视化研究

为了探究微通道内流动沸腾及传热现象的机理,以制冷剂R22为工质在矩形微通道内进行了流动沸腾及可视化实验。结果表明,在核态沸腾下传热系数受质量流率的影响较小,却随着热流密度的增加而快速增加;微通道的尺寸越小,传热效果越好,水力直径为0.92 mm和1.33 mm微通道内的传热系数比2 mm微通道内的传热系数分别提高约25%、12%;根据实验值与预测值的对比情况,在Oh H K等[15]和Yun R等[7]模型基础上拟合得到新的传热系数预测关联式,平均绝对误差降至8.8%;通过可视化实验发现,在临界热流密度下微通道内出现波浪式气体层的现象。     

Experimental two-phase heat transfer coefficient and frictional pressure drop inside mini-channels during condensation with R1234yf and R134a

The present paper reports condensing two-phase flow pressure drop gradient and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) inside a mini-channel multiport tube with R1234yf and R134a. Several models available in the literature are used to compare predictions of these two fluids. Experimental data are analysed to get the influence of saturation temperature, mass flux, vapour quality and fluid properties. HTC values of R1234yf seem to be lower than R134a under similar conditions. Two-phase flow pressure drops are also lower in the case of the new refrigerant R1234yf.     

Experimental boiling heat transfer coefficients in the high temperature generator of a double effect absorption machine for the lithium bromide/water mixture

The aim of this work is to determine the boiling heat transfer coefficients in the high temperature desorber (HTD) of an air-cooled double effect lithium bromide/water absorption prototype. The HTD is a plate heat exchanger (PHE) with thermal oil on one side, and a lithium bromide solution on the other side. Several experiments were performed with this PHE while the prototype was working with an outdoor dry bulb temperature around 42 °C and condensation temperature around 55 °C. The registered data allowed to calculate the global heat transfer coefficient and the heat transfer coefficient for the LiBr/water mixture in forced convective boiling. The pressure drop produced by the boiling of the refrigerant has been calculated as well. It has been verified that the largest part of the heat supplied in the generator is required for desorbing the refrigerant (except for the maximum solution mass flow), while the sensible heat varies from 10% to 50% of the total heat supplied.     

Experimental results and design procedures for minichannel condensers and evaporators using propylene

Hydrocarbons (HCs) present favorable thermodynamic and transport properties that make them attractive for use in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. The major issue related to HCs is their flammability and hence the realization of low charge heat transfer devices is a key factor for their market placement. Although flammable refrigerants call for charge minimization, propylene heat transfer data inside minichannels is new in the open literature.In the present paper, condensation heat transfer, flow boiling heat transfer and two-phase pressure drop measurements taken with propylene (R1270) inside a 0.96 mm diameter minichannel are presented and compared against correlations.A comparative analysis of the condensation performance of R1270, R290 and two HFCs is made with the objective of minimizing the exergy losses, due to the driving temperature difference between saturation and wall and to the frictional pressure drop. An estimation of the condenser refrigerant charge is also performed. The flow boiling heat transfer performance of R1270 is discussed in comparison to the one of R290.     

Use of fluorescence to measure the lubricant excess surface density during pool boiling

This paper presents what are believed to be the first measurements of the non-adiabatic lubricant excess surface density on a roughened, flat, plain horizontal pool-boiling surface. Pool boiling heat transfer data is given for pure R123 and a R123/lubricant mixture. Lubricant excess surface density data are given for the boiling R123/lubricant mixture. A spectrofluorometer was used to measure the lubricant excess density that was established by the boiling of a R123/lubricant mixture on a test surface. The fluorescent measurement technique was used to confirm the existence of the lubricant excess layer during refrigerant/lubricant mixture boiling. The refrigerant preferentially boils, thus, concentrating and accumulating the lubricant on the surface in excess of the bulk concentration. The excess lubricant resides in a very thin layer on the surface and influences the boiling performance. Accordingly, the ability to measure the lubricant excess density on the heat transfer surface would lead to a fundamental understanding of the mechanism by which lubricants can degrade or improve boiling performance. In support of this effort, heat transfer data are provided for both pure R123 and an R123/lubricant (1.8% lubricant mass fraction) mixture at 277.6 K. The heat transfer data shows that the lubricant excess causes an average degradation of 12% in the heat flux for a given superheat.

Résumé

This paper presents what are believed to be the first measurements of the non-adiabatic lubricant excess surface density on a roughened, flat, plain horizontal pool-boiling surface. Pool boiling heat transfer data is given for pure R123 and a R123/lubricant mixture. Lubricant excess surface density data are given for the boiling R123/lubricant mixture. A spectrofluorometer was used to measure the lubricant excess density that was established by the boiling of a R123/lubricant mixture on a test surface. The fluorescent measurement technique was used to confirm the existence of the lubricant excess layer during refrigerant/lubricant mixture boiling. The refrigerant preferentially boils, thus, concentrating and accumulating the lubricant on the surface in excess of the bulk concentration. The excess lubricant resides in a very thin layer on the surface and influences the boiling performance. Accordingly, the ability to measure the lubricant excess density on the heat transfer surface would lead to a fundamental understanding of the mechanism by which lubricants can degrade or improve boiling performance. In support of this effort, heat transfer data are provided for both pure R123 and an R123/lubricant (1.8% lubricant mass fraction) mixture at 277.6 K. The heat transfer data shows that the lubricant excess causes an average degradation of 12% in the heat flux for a given superheat.     

R290在水平微细圆管内沸腾换热特性研究

本文研究了R290在内径为1 mm、2 mm和4 mm水平微细圆管内的沸腾流动换热特性,在饱和温度为15℃条件下,质量流速为50～600 kg/(m²·s)、干度为0～1、热流密度为5～20 k W/m²时,对沸腾传热系数的影响进行了分析。通过实验发现,增大质量流速对传热系数具有增强作用,质量流速对传热系数的影响在低干度区域比高干度区域小。在热流密度方面,传热系数随着热流密度的增大而增大,且在1 mm和2 mm管内观察到了临界干度对传热系数的影响,这时传热系数有断崖式下降的趋势。在管径对于传热系数的影响方面,通过对不同管径换热特性的横向对比,发现在一定工况下传热系数随着管径的减小有所上升。此外本文还对R290已有的部分关联式进行了适配性验证。     

Prediction of evaporation heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of refrigerant mixtures in horizontal tubes

A study on the prediction of heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of refrigerant mixtures is reported. Heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops of prospective mixtures to replace R12 and R22 are predicted on the same cooling capacity basis assuming evaporation in horizontal tubes. Results indicate that nucleate boiling is suppressed at qualities greater than 20% for all mixtures, and evaporation becomes the main heat transfer mechanism. For the same capacity, some mixtures containing R32 and R152a show 8–10% increase in heat transfer coefficients. Some mixtures with large volatility difference exhibit as much as 55% reduction compared to R12 and R22, caused by mass transfer resistance and property degradation due to mixing (32%) and reduced mass flow rates (23%). Other mixtures with moderate volatility difference exhibit 20–30% degradation due mainly to reduced mass flow rates. The overall impact of heat transfer degradation, however, is insignificant if major heat transfer resistance exists in the heat transfer fluid side (air system). If the resistance in the heat transfer fluid side is of the same order of magnitude as that on the refrigerant side (water system), considerable reduction in overall heat transfer coefficient of up to 20% is expected. A study of the effect of uncertainties in transport properties on heat transfer shows that transport properties of liquid affect heat transfer more than other properties. Uncertainty of 10% in transport properties causes a change of less than 6% in heat transfer prediction.     

Heat transfer during forced convection condensation inside horizontal tube

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on heat transfer behaviour during forced convection condensation inside a horizontal tube for wavy, semi-annular and annular flows. A qualitative study was made of the effect of various parameters - refrigerant mass flux, vapour quality, condensate film temperature drop and average vapour mass velocity - on average condensing heat transfer coefficient. Akers-Rosson correlations have been found to predict the heat transfer coefficients within ±25% for the entire range of data. A closer examination of the data revealed that the nature of the relation for the heat transfer coefficient changes from annular and semi-annular flow to wavy flow. Akers-Rosson correlations with changed constant and power have been recommended for the two flow regimes.