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Experimental results and design guidelines for minichannel condensers using hydrocarbons.

Number: pap. 1118

Author(s) : DEL COL D., AZZOLIN M., BORTOLIN S., et al.

Summary

Hydrocarbons (HCs) present favorable thermodynamic and transport properties that make them attractive for use in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. Furthermore, HCs display low global warming potential (GWP) and thus they could be an environmentally friendly solution to replace hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The major issue related to a wide utilization of HCs in refrigeration industry is their flammability and hence the realization of low charge heat transfer devices is a key factor for their market placement. Despite the favorable characteristics as cost, compatibility with materials and mineral oil, few works in the literature deal with condensation of HCs. In the present paper, new condensation heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop data measured with propylene (R1270) inside a 0.96 mm diameter minichannel are presented. Tests have been performed at 40°C saturation temperature, with mass velocity ranging between 200 and 1000 kg m-2 s-1. In addition, propane (R290) experimental data previously measured inside the same minichannel are reported for comparison. Two correlations for heat transfer and pressured drop available in the literature have been assessed using the present database with the aim to suggest reliable tools for minichannel condenser design. Finally, a comparative analysis between the condensation performance of HCs and two HFCs is reported: the comparison 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 using the different fluids is also performed.

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Pages: 8 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Experimental results and design guidelines for minichannel condensers using hydrocarbons.
  • Record ID : 30019087
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 12th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants (GL2016). Proceedings. Édimbourg, United Kingdom, August 21st-24th 2016.
  • Publication date: 2016/08/21
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.gl.2016.1118

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