Evaluation of Condensation Pressure Drop Correlations for Microfin Tubes

  • Published : 2007.12.30

Abstract

The characteristics of nine existing condensation frictional pressure drop correlations for microfin tubes were evaluated with geometries, vapor quality, mass flux, and refrigerants. The $M\ddot{u}ller-Steinhagen$ and Heck [17] smooth tube frictional pressure drop correlation was utilized to evaluate the pressure drop penalty factor (PF). Except the Nozu et al. [2], the Kedzierski and Goncalves [3], the Choi et al. [10], and the Cavallini et al. [7], other pressure drop correlations did not consider the effect of tube geometry. The prediction values for R407C by pressure drop correlations show discrepancy with previous researcher's experimental trend. Additional efforts on the development of reliable condensation pressure drop correlation for microfin tubes are still required with the systematic investigation of various effects like geometries and working conditions.

Keywords

References

  1. Haraguchi, H., Koyama, S., Esaki, J. and Fujii, T., 1993, Condensation heat transfer of refrigerants HCFC134a, HCFC123 and HCFC22 in a horizontal smooth tube and a horiontal microfin tube, In: Proc. 30th National Symp. Of Japan, Yokohama, pp. 343-345
  2. Nozu, S. and Honda, H., 2000, Condensation of refrigerants in horizontal, spirally grooved microfin tubes: Numerical analysis of heat transfer in the annular flow regime, J. of heat transfer, Vol. 122, pp. 80-91 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.521439
  3. Kedzierski, M. A. and Gonclaves, J. M., 1999, Horizontal convective condensation of alternative refrigerants within a micro-fin tube, J. Enhanced Heat Transfer, Vol. 6, pp. 161-178 https://doi.org/10.1615/JEnhHeatTransf.v6.i2-4.90
  4. Pierre, B., 1964, Flow resistance with boiling refrigerants-Part 1, ASHRAE J., Vol. 6, no. 9, pp. 58-65
  5. Newell, T. A. and Shah, R. K., 1999, Refrigerant heat transfer, pressure drop, and void fraction effects in microfin tubes, In: Proc. 2nd Int. Symp. On Two-Phase Flow and Experimentation, Vol. 3, pp. 1623-1639
  6. Souza, A. L. and Pimenta, M. M., 1995, Prediction of pressure drop during horizontal two-phase flow of pure and mixed refrigerant, In: ASME conf. Cavitation and Multiphase flow, HTD-210, pp. 161-171
  7. Cavallini, A., Del Col, D., Doretti, L., Longo G. A. and Rossetto L., 2000, Heat transfer and pressure drop during condensation of refrigerants inside horizontal enhanced tubes, Int. J. of Refrig., Vol. 23, pp 4-25 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(99)00032-8
  8. Friedel, L., 1979, Improved friction pressure drop correlations for horizontal and vertical two-phase pipe flow, paper no. E2, European Two-Phase flow group meeting, Ispra, Italy
  9. Rouhani, S. Z., 1969, Subcooled void fraction, AB Atomenergi Sweden, internal report, AE-RTV841
  10. Choi, J. Y., Kedzierski M. A and P. A Domanski, 2001, Generalized pressure drop correlation for evaporation and condensation in smooth and microfm tubes, In: Proc. Of IIF-IIR Commision Bl, Paderborn, Germany, B4, pp. 9-1
  11. Goto, M., Inoue, N., Ishiwatari, N., 2001, Condensation and evaporation heat transfer of R410A inside internally grooved horizontal tubes, Int. J. Refrig., Vol. 24, pp. 628-638 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(00)00087-6
  12. Han, D. and Lee, K. J., 2005, Experimental study on condensation heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop penalty factors in 4 microfin tubes, Int. J. of Heat and Mass Transfer, accepted
  13. Han, D. and Lee, K. J., 2005, Single-phase heat transfer and flow characteristics of micro-fin tubes, Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 25, pp. 1657-1669 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2004.10.015
  14. Wang, H. S., Rose, J. W. and Honda, H., 2003, Condensation of refrigerants in horizontal micro-fin tubes: comparison of correlations for frictional pressure drop, Int. J. Refrig., Vol. 26, pp. 461-472 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(02)00159-7
  15. Censi, G., Doretti, L., Rossetto, L, and Zilio, C., 2003, Flow pattern visualization during condensation of R134a inside horizontal micro-fin and smooth tubes, Int. Congress of Refrigeration, Washington, D.C., USA
  16. Newell, T. A, and Shah, R. K., 2001, An assessment of refrigerant heat transfer, pressure drop, and void fraction effects in microfin tubes, Int. J. of HVAC and R Research, Vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 125-153 https://doi.org/10.1080/10789669.2001.10391267
  17. Muller-Steinhagen, H, and Heck, K., 1986, A simple friction pressure drop correlation for two-phase flow in pipes, Chem Eng Process, Vol. 20, pp. 297-308 https://doi.org/10.1016/0255-2701(86)80008-3
  18. Ould Didi, M. B., Kattan, N., and Thome, J. R., 2002, Prediction of two-phase pressure gradients of refrigerants in horizontal tubes, Int. J. of Refrigeration, Vol. 25, pp. 935-947 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(01)00099-8
  19. Cavallini, A, Bortoluzzi, C., and Del Col, D., 2003, Heat transfer enhancement and pressure gradient increase during condensation in a microfin tube: a new approach, Int. Congress of Refrigeration, Washington, D.C., USA
  20. Eckels, S. J., and Tesene, B. A, 1999, A comparison of R-22, R-134a, R-410a, and R-407c condensation performance in smooth and enhanced tubes: Part II, Pressure drop, ASHRAE Trans., Vol. 105, pp.428-441