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Experimental analysis of condensation heat transfer and frictional pressure drop in a horizontal circular mini channel

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Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the effect of working fluid, mass flux, vapour quality and saturation temperature on local condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) and local Frictional Pressure Drop (FPD) in a horizontal circular mini-channel. The refrigerants HFO-1234yf and HFC-R134a have been used as a working fluids. The mass flux was varied from 200 to 800 kg/m2 s whereas two distinct saturation temperatures were used: 35 °C and 40 °C. The experimental analysis was carried out using horizontal circular single port mini-channel of hydraulic diameter 1 mm. During experiment, inlet condition of refrigerant was maintained to be saturated vapour. The results show that HTC and FPD increases with increase in vapour quality and mass flux whereas decreases with increase in saturation temperature. The experiment results of present study and previously published results are compared with various predictive models. Models which show minimum deviation from experimental results were used to develop new modified model to predict HTC with MARD of ± 15 % and FPD with MARD of ± 10 %.

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Abbreviations

As :

Heat transfer area, m2

Ao :

Cross sectional area or free flow area, m2

A1, A2:

Moser’s constant

Bo:

Bond number

C:

Lockhart-Martinelli coefficient

Ca:

Capillary number

Co:

Confinement number

Cou:

Courant number

C1, C2:

Cavallini’s constant

Cp :

Specific heat at constant pressure, kJ/kg K

Cv :

Specific heat at constant volume, kJ/kg K

D, d:

hydraulic channel diameter, mm

E:

entrainment ratio

F:

Frictional

Fr:

Froude number

g:

Gravitational acceleration, m/s2

G:

Mass flux, kg/m2s

Ga:

Galileo number

h:

Heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

h lv :

Heat of vaporization, kJ/kg

k:

Thermal conductivity, W/m K

k :

Turbulent kinetic energy, m2/s2

L:

Characteristic Length, m

\( \dot{m} \) :

mass flow rate, kg/s

Nu:

Nusselt Number

p:

Pressure, bar

p1 :

Condenser inlet pressure, bar

p2 :

Condenser outlet pressure, bar

Pr:

Prandtl Number

Prw :

Prandtl Number at wall

Pred :

Reduced pressure

\( \dot{Q} \) :

Volume flow rate, m3/s

q:

Heat flux, kW/m2

Re:

Reynolds number

S:

source term

T:

Temperature, °C

Tsat :

Saturated temperature, °C

Twall :

Wall temperature, °C

t:

Thickness, mm

u:

velocity, m/s

v :

Specific volume, m3/kg

We:

Weber number

Xtt :

Martinelli parameter

x:

Vapour quality

CFCs :

Chlorofluorocarbons

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

CHE:

Compact heat exchanger

CB:

Coalescing bubble

CNC:

Computerized numerical controlled

CSF:

Continuum surface force

DME:

Dimethyl Ether

FPD:

Frictional pressure drop

GWP:

Global warming potential

HTC:

Heat transfer coefficient

HT :

Heat transfer

HCFC:

hydrochlorofluorocarbans

HFC:

hydrofluorocarbons

HEM:

Homogeneous Equilibrium Model

HFO:

hydrofluoroolfine

MARD:

Mean absolute relative deviation

MRD :

Mean relative deviation

PD:

Pressure drop

ST:

Surface tension

USB:

Universal serial bus

δ:

Liquid film thickness, μm

ε:

Rate of turbulent dissipation, m2/m3

σ:

Surface tension, N/m

J:

Super facial velocity, m/s

ƒ:

Friction factor

τ :

Shear stress, N/m2

μ:

Dynamic viscosity, N s/m2

ϑ:

Kinematic viscosity, m2/s

ρ:

Density of condensate film, kg/m3

χtt:

Lockhart-Martinelli parameter

φ:

Vapour two phase pressure drop multiplier

α:

Void fraction or Volume fraction

Є:

Zivi’s void fraction

Γ:

Effective thermal diffusivity, m2/s

\( {\mathrm{j}}_{\mathrm{g}}^{\ast } \) :

Non-dimensional gas velocity

β:

Volumetric quality

ω:

Specific dissipation rate, 1/s

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Acknowledgements

The present research work is a supported by MHRD, Govt of India and Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, India under the Annual plan No.MED/RAC Lab. /Annual Plan/0816/2638/2017-18.

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  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India

    Tejendra Patel, A. D. Parekh & P. R. Tailor

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  1. Tejendra Patel
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Patel, T., Parekh, A. & Tailor, P. Experimental analysis of condensation heat transfer and frictional pressure drop in a horizontal circular mini channel. Heat Mass Transfer 56, 1579–1600 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-019-02798-5

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