Condensation Heat Transfer Characteristics of R-134a with Wall Thickness and Surface Roughness on Stainless Steel Horizontal Plain Tubes

The filmwise condensation heat transfer coefficients of R-134a on the horizontal copper and stainless steel tubes were measured and analyzed. The outside diameter of the tubes was 15.88 mm, and the tube thickness ranged from 0.89 to 1.65 mm. The polished stainless steel tube had an RMS surface roughness($R_q$) of 0.37 $\mu$m, and commercial stainless steel tubes had an surface roughness($R_q$) of 1.855 $\mu$m. The tests were conducted at the saturation temperatures of 20 and $30^{\circ}C$, and the liquid wall subcoolings from 0.4 to $2.1^{\circ}C$. The measured condensation heat transfer coefficients were significantly lower than the predicted data by the Nusselt analysis. This trend in the stainless steel tube was explained by the effects of thermal resistance of tube material and surface roughness. Based on the experimental data with respect to wall thickness and surface roughness, it was suggested that the existing correlation on external condensation should be modified by considering material and surface roughness factors. The revised correlation was developed by introducing the effects of wall thickness and surface roughness into the Nusselt equation. The average deviation of the revised correlation was 13.0 %.

스테인리스 평활관의 관 두께 및 표면거칠기에 따른 R-134a 의 관외측 응축 열전달 특성 연구