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Experimental investigation of a new low-approach evaporator with reduced refrigerant charge.

Number: pap. 2555

Author(s) : CENSI G., GIANCOTTI L., PADOVAN A.

Summary

The need to reduce the refrigerant charge in the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry, together with the requirement of high efficiency, is forcing to search for alternatives to the classical flooded evaporators. This paper presents an experimental study on the heat transfer performances of the Hybrid Film evaporator, a brand new kind of shell-and-tube evaporator currently under patent pending. Tests were carried out about the heat transfer performances of a reference flooded evaporator, working with constant liquid level, and of a prototype of Hybrid Film, with the same overall dimensions and the same heat transfer area. The refrigerant considered is R134a, and the fluid cooled is water. The two evaporators were tested one after the other in the same centrifugal, oil-free chiller, condensed by water. In order to evaluate and compare the heat transfer performances, the temperature approaches and the global heat transfer coefficients were measured while varying the compressor load. Their values are presented as a function of the heat flux, together with an estimation of the refrigerant side heat transfer coefficient. Moreover, the effect of the inlet vapor quality was studied. Finally, the total amount of R134a needed in the chiller for the two different samples is reported, and the refrigerant saving with the new evaporator is discussed. The analysis of the data collected showed that the Hybrid Film evaporator is a very efficient alternative to the flooded evaporator, as it allows to reduce the refrigerant charge while maintaining, or slightly improving, the heat transfer performances.

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Pages: 10

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Details

  • Original title: Experimental investigation of a new low-approach evaporator with reduced refrigerant charge.
  • Record ID : 30024645
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2018 Purdue Conferences. 17th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2018/07/09

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