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Modeling of two-phase refrigerant distribution in brazed plate heat exchangers. 

Author(s) : LI W., HRNJAK P.

Type of article: IJR article

Summary

This paper presents a mechanistic model that predicts two-phase refrigerant distribution in brazed plate heat exchangers. The modeling of two-phase distribution is based on the flow visualization in the inlet header, in which the flow regime is identified to be periodic and one cycle includes two or three flow stages, given a fully developed stratified/stratified-wavy flow is present at the heat exchanger entrance. To predict the vapor refrigerant distribution, this model considers two different flow stages in the inlet header: for the top corner vapor flow, the vapor refrigerant distribution is predicted by the balance between the suction force (radial pressure gradient) and the axial momentum of each phase; for the vapor jet flow, the vapor refrigerant is assumed to be distributed evenly among the channels. The time ratio of the two flow stages is estimated by assuming the irregular large-amplitude rolling waves in the feeding tube, which lead to the vapor jet flow in the header, to have the most dangerous wavelength and their traveling time can be related to the liquid slug frequency. The apparent vapor refrigerant distribution is the time average of the vapor distributions at the two stages. For the liquid refrigerant distribution, it is predicted by imposing an equal total pressure drop for each flow path. The proposed model is validated against the experimental results: quantified two-phase refrigerant distribution, heat exchanger capacities, pressure profiles in the headers, and surface temperature of the sidewalls.

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Pages: 12 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Modeling of two-phase refrigerant distribution in brazed plate heat exchangers. 
  • Record ID : 30029437
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: International Journal of Refrigeration - Revue Internationale du Froid - vol. 136
  • Publication date: 2022/04
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2022.01.020
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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