Changes in optimal design of a dry-expansion evaporator when replacing R22 with R407C: Différences de configuration optimale pour un évaporateur à détente sèche lors du remplacement du R22 par le R407C

An investigation was made on whether the optimal number of tubes in a dry-expansion evaporator, for a given area or a given cost, will change when R22 is replaced with the non-azeotropic mixture R407C. A comprehensive computer program was used to simulate the tube-and-shell evaporator, under several sets of conditions. The simulations show that there are only small differences between R22 and R407C in the optimal number of tubes. However, the results indicate that one can allow a somewhat higher pressure drop for R407C, and that the number of tubes for a given area therefore can be smaller when R407C is used. For both fluids, the evaporator performance is more sensitive to the optimization for a given cost than for a given area.