• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2009

It is well known that a refrigerant-induced noise is caused by two-phase flow in the indoor unit of a heat pump air-conditioner. Especially when the flow pattern in a pipe is intermittent flow, the irregular noise occurs frequently. But it is very difficult to avoid this kind of the noise for the application of air-conditioner. Therefore, in this research, the flow patterns at two-phase flow state in a pipe of the indoor unit for the air-conditioner are researched using cycle simulator at typical cycle conditions. In order to find the relationship between refrigerant-induced noise and flow pattern, the noise patterns are investigated with respect to the estimated flow pattern from the various flow pattern maps. Base on the estimations of the flow patterns by those maps, the refrigerant-induced noise is evaluated as decreasing tube diameter, which can transit the flow pattern from slug to annular flow.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.957-963
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• 2008

The refrigerant-induced noise of the air conditioner is one of the irregular noises which occurs at the indoor unit. Because the air-conditioner makers are always trying to reduce the sound pressure level radiated from indoor unit, reducing the refrigerant-induced noise at low cooling mode is very important problem. But it is very difficult to estimate whether the refrigerant-induced noise occurs or not before it becomes problem. In this paper, a method to predict the refrigerant-induced noise is suggested using flow pattern map. It is estimated that the irregular noise from the refrigerant comes from the slug flow in a pipe.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.916-923
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• 2011

The refrigerant after the expansion valve interchanges the heat at the evaporator. At this moment, the state of gas and liquid becomes two-phase flow and causes irregular noise. In order to avoid the noise, the two-phase flow pattern should be predicted. In this paper, the procedure to predict the two-phase flow patterns such as churn flow and annular flow was suggested using the CFD software. The experiments using refrigerant-supplying equipment was carried out and the noise levels according to the flow pattern were measured. The flow patterns predicted by this procedure showed good agreement with those by experiments. The churn flow is noisier than annular flow pattern.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.371-375
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• 2009

The distribution control of refrigerant flow is one of the basic technique to enhance system efficiency. However, if engineers forget to control the refrigerant flow speed in all operation range, refrigerant flow mal distribution becomes a noise source. The refrigerant flow noise should be checked and controlled at the lowest air flow mode which is the most silent mode and frequently used in night time.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1012-1020
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• 2009

This research is focused on the experimental study of the noise induced by two-phase refrigerant flow in the evaporator. The two-phase flow in the evaporator has various flow patterns. The effects of two-phase flow pattern's characteristics on the noise of the evaporator are investigated experimentally. The experimental data shows that the generated noise is mainly related to the layout of the pipe and the certain two-phase flow patterns such as the churn and slug flow. Based on these results, we removed the unnecessary vertical pipe and changed the pipe diameter of the evaporator - inlet into small one in order to avoid the intermittent flow condition. The noise level of newly-designed inlet-pipe of the evaporator was measured experimentally by refrigerant-supplying equipment and compared with that of conventional one.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.16 no.3 s.108
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• pp.240-246
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• 2006

In the air-conditioner, refrigerant induced noise and vibration can be increased when the airflow rate is reduced in order to decrease the noise at the low mode. Through the test and analysis of this kind of noise, it can be verified that the main reasons of refrigerant induced noise are the velocity and flow Induced force of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator, So, in order to reduce this velocity, quality at the evaporator inlet should be minimized. And, in order to reduce flow induced force of the refrigerant, sudden change of fluid flow must not be occurred. So, in this paper, we will review the characteristics of refrigerant cycle and find how the quality and flow induced force can be minimized.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.1062-1066
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• 2004

In this study, refrigerant noise at connection of capillary tube and evaporator is investigated. Mechanism of refrigerant noise generation is examined in side-by-side type home refrigerator with two evaporators. It is found that the refrigerant noise is generated during refrigeration room fan-off (R-fan of) for that type refrigerator. The reason is that mass flow rate gets down during R-fan of and flow pattern is changed at outlet of capillary tube. We suggest designs for reduction of refrigerant noise with horizontal double expansion device, muffler, and accumulator. To evaluate those improved designs, sound quality index is used.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.421-426
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• 2005

For the air-conditioner, refrigerant induced noise and vibration should be the problem when it reduced airflow rate in order to reduce the noise at low mode. With the test, it could be verified that one of the main reason for refrigerant induced noise were the velocity and flowing induced force of the refrigerant at the inlet of evaporator. So in order to reduce this velocity with same mass flow rate of refrigerant, quality at the evaporator inlet should be minimized. And in order to reduce flowing induced force of the refrigerant, flowing direction change should be eliminated. So in this paper, it would like to review the characteristics of refrigerating cycle at first and find how the quality and flowing induced force can be minimized.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1184-1190
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• 2012

This study is focused on the experimental analysis of the noise induced by phase change of refrigerant at the entrance of capillary tube. The refrigerant is usually two-phase condition when it flowed into the capillary tube. At the entrance of capillary tube, the phase condition of refrigerant is formed by sub-cool control. If it has sufficient sub-cool temperature, all of the vapor refrigerants turned to liquid, which means there is only liquid. Otherwise, the gas is coexisted. Based on this theory, we experiment on each case by changing sub-cool temperature using refrigerant-supplying equipment. The noise level is measured for each case and compared.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.84-85
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• 2010