IIR document

Refrigerant charge, pressure drop, and condensation heat transfer in flattened tubes.

Author(s) : WILSON M. J., NEWELL T. A., CHATO J. C., et al.

Type of article: Article, IJR article

Summary

Horizontal smooth and microfinned copper tubes with an approximate diameter of 9 mm were successively flattened in order to determine changes in flow field characteristics as a round tube is altered into a flattened tube profile. Refrigerants R134a and R410A were investigated over a mass flux range from 75 to 400 kg m-2 s-1 and a quality range from approximately 10-80%. For a given refrigerant mass flow rate, the results show that a significant reduction in refrigerant charge is possible. Pressure drop results show increases of pressure drop at a given mass flux and quality as a tube profile is flattened. Heat transfer results indicate enhancement of the condensation heat transfer coefficient as a tube is flattened. Flattened tubes with an 18° helix angle displayed the highest heat transfer coefficients. Smooth tubes and axial microfin tubes displayed similar levels of heat transfer enhancement. Heat transfer enhancement is dependent on the mass flux, quality and tube profile.

Available documents

Format PDF

Pages: 442-451

Available

  • Public price

    20 €

  • Member price*

    Free

* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).

Details

  • Original title: Refrigerant charge, pressure drop, and condensation heat transfer in flattened tubes.
  • Record ID : 2003-1695
  • Languages: English
  • Source: International Journal of Refrigeration - Revue Internationale du Froid - vol. 26 - n. 4
  • Publication date: 2003/06

Links


See other articles in this issue (12)
See the source