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http://dx.doi.org/10.6110/KJACR.2015.27.9.491

A Numerical Study on Refrigerant Distribution according to the Insertion Depth of the Distributor-Outlet Pipes in an Air-Conditioning System  

Lee, Hee Won (School of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National University)
Park, Il Seouk (School of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering / v.27, no.9, 2015 , pp. 491-496 More about this Journal
Abstract
Generally, the phase of the refrigerants that circulate in air-conditioning systems is repeatedly changed from liquid to gas and from gas to liquid. In vapor-compression refrigeration, the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator is in a gas-liquid two-phase state; therefore, to enhance the heat-transfer performance of the evaporator, the even distribution of the refrigerant across multiple passages of the evaporator is essential. Unlike the distribution of a single-phase refrigerant, multi-phase distribution requires further considerations. It is known that the multi-phase distribution at the outlet of the distributor is affected by factors such as the operating condition, the distributor's shape, and the insertion depth of the outlet pipes; here, the insertion depth of the outlet pipes is especially significant. In this study, for a cylindrical distributor with a 90-degree bend entrance and three outlet pipes, the flow uniformity at the outlet pipes was numerically tested in relation to variations of the insertion depth of the outlet pipes.
Keywords
Multiphase flow; Annular flow; Flow uniformity; Distributor; Insertion depth;
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