A unified prediction method for smooth and micro-fin tube condensation performance
- Authors: Liebenberg, Leon
- Date: 2009-01-22T05:36:54Z
- Subjects: Heat transmission , Heat exchangers , Condensation , Refrigerants
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14813 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1939
- Description: D.Ing.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Liebenberg, Leon
- Date: 2009-01-22T05:36:54Z
- Subjects: Heat transmission , Heat exchangers , Condensation , Refrigerants
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14813 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1939
- Description: D.Ing.
- Full Text:
Condensing coefficients of the refrigerant mixture R-22/R-142b in smooth tubes and during enhanced heat transfer configurations
- Authors: Smit, Floris Jakobus
- Date: 2009-01-22T05:36:38Z
- Subjects: Refrigerants , Condensation , Heat transmission
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14812 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1938
- Description: D.Ing. , The heating of water with hot-water heat pumps is extremely energy-efficient. With the refrigerant R-22 hot water temperatures of 60° C to 65° C are possible. However, these temperatures are low in comparison with the temperatures obtained from other methods of water heating, for instance electrical geysers. Should higher water temperatures be obtained, the applications of hot-water heat pumps will increase. This is possible by using a zeotropic refrigerant mixture as working fluid. A R-22 and R-142b zeotropic refrigerant mixture shows exceptional potential in achieving hot water temperatures. The condensing coefficients need to be predicted correctly to optimize the condenser design. Unfortunately, there is a lack of detailed literature available on condensing coefficients for the recommended mass fractions of R-22 with R-142b at condensing temperatures of 60° C or more. Micro-fin tubes perform outstanding in enhancing heat transfer and are widely used to save energy. Unfortunately, there is also a lack of detailed literature on condensing coefficient at the recommended mass fractions of R-22/R-142b refrigerant mixtures condensing in micro-fins, twisted tapes and high fins at temperatures of 60° C or more. In this study condensing coefficients of R-22 and the zeotropic refrigerant mixture R-22 with R-142b were obtained in smooth tubes at mass fractions of 90%/10%, 80%/20%, 70%/30%, 60%/40%, 50%/50%. The experimental data were used to evaluate some of the methods that are commonly used to predict condensing coefficients. Experiments were also conducted at the same zeotropic mass fractions, to compare three different methods of heat transfer enhancement to that of the smooth tubes namely: micro-fins, twisted tapes and high fins. All measurements were conducted at an isobaric inlet pressure of 2.43 MPa. The test sections consisted of a series of eight tubes with lengths of 1 603 mm. The smooth tubes had an inner diameter of 8.11 mm. With the R-22/R-142b zeotropic refrigerant mixture condensing in smooth tubes, it was observed in the sight glasses that a predominantly stratified wavy flow regime exists at low mass fluxes, from 40 kg/m2s to 350 kg/m2s. The refrigerant mass fraction decreased the condensing coefficient by up to a third on average from 100% R-22 to a 50%/50% mixture of R-22 with R142b. A predominantly annular flow regime was observed at mass fluxes of 350 kg/m2s and more. At this flow regime the condensing coefficients were not strongly influenced by the refrigerant mass fraction, decreasing only by 7% as the refrigerant mass fraction changed from 100% R-22 to a 50%/50% mixture of R-22 with R142b. When the experimental data were compared with three methods that are commonly used to predict condensing coefficients it was found that the flow pattern correlation of Dobson and Chato (1998) gave the best predictions for R-22. The Silver (1964) and Bell and Ghaly (1964) method gave the best predictions for the R-22/R-142b mixtures. When the three heat transfer enhancement methods were compared with smooth tubes it was found that micro-fins were more suitable as an enhancement method than twisted tubes or high fins. It was also found that the condensing coefficients and pressure drops decrease as the mass fractions of R-142b increases.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Smit, Floris Jakobus
- Date: 2009-01-22T05:36:38Z
- Subjects: Refrigerants , Condensation , Heat transmission
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14812 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1938
- Description: D.Ing. , The heating of water with hot-water heat pumps is extremely energy-efficient. With the refrigerant R-22 hot water temperatures of 60° C to 65° C are possible. However, these temperatures are low in comparison with the temperatures obtained from other methods of water heating, for instance electrical geysers. Should higher water temperatures be obtained, the applications of hot-water heat pumps will increase. This is possible by using a zeotropic refrigerant mixture as working fluid. A R-22 and R-142b zeotropic refrigerant mixture shows exceptional potential in achieving hot water temperatures. The condensing coefficients need to be predicted correctly to optimize the condenser design. Unfortunately, there is a lack of detailed literature available on condensing coefficients for the recommended mass fractions of R-22 with R-142b at condensing temperatures of 60° C or more. Micro-fin tubes perform outstanding in enhancing heat transfer and are widely used to save energy. Unfortunately, there is also a lack of detailed literature on condensing coefficient at the recommended mass fractions of R-22/R-142b refrigerant mixtures condensing in micro-fins, twisted tapes and high fins at temperatures of 60° C or more. In this study condensing coefficients of R-22 and the zeotropic refrigerant mixture R-22 with R-142b were obtained in smooth tubes at mass fractions of 90%/10%, 80%/20%, 70%/30%, 60%/40%, 50%/50%. The experimental data were used to evaluate some of the methods that are commonly used to predict condensing coefficients. Experiments were also conducted at the same zeotropic mass fractions, to compare three different methods of heat transfer enhancement to that of the smooth tubes namely: micro-fins, twisted tapes and high fins. All measurements were conducted at an isobaric inlet pressure of 2.43 MPa. The test sections consisted of a series of eight tubes with lengths of 1 603 mm. The smooth tubes had an inner diameter of 8.11 mm. With the R-22/R-142b zeotropic refrigerant mixture condensing in smooth tubes, it was observed in the sight glasses that a predominantly stratified wavy flow regime exists at low mass fluxes, from 40 kg/m2s to 350 kg/m2s. The refrigerant mass fraction decreased the condensing coefficient by up to a third on average from 100% R-22 to a 50%/50% mixture of R-22 with R142b. A predominantly annular flow regime was observed at mass fluxes of 350 kg/m2s and more. At this flow regime the condensing coefficients were not strongly influenced by the refrigerant mass fraction, decreasing only by 7% as the refrigerant mass fraction changed from 100% R-22 to a 50%/50% mixture of R-22 with R142b. When the experimental data were compared with three methods that are commonly used to predict condensing coefficients it was found that the flow pattern correlation of Dobson and Chato (1998) gave the best predictions for R-22. The Silver (1964) and Bell and Ghaly (1964) method gave the best predictions for the R-22/R-142b mixtures. When the three heat transfer enhancement methods were compared with smooth tubes it was found that micro-fins were more suitable as an enhancement method than twisted tubes or high fins. It was also found that the condensing coefficients and pressure drops decrease as the mass fractions of R-142b increases.
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Heat transfer performance during in-tube condensation in horizontal smooth, micro-fin and herringbone tubes
- Authors: Lambrechts, Adriaan
- Date: 2008-11-27T07:26:46Z
- Subjects: Heat transmission , Condensation , Refrigerants
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14738 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1753
- Description: M.Ing. , An experimental investigation was conducted into the heat transfer characteristics of horizontal smooth, micro-fin and herringbone tubes during in-tube condensation. The study focused on the heat transfer coefficients of refrigerants R-22, R-134a and R-407C inside the three tubes. The herringbone tube results were compared to the smooth and micro-fin tube results. The average increase in the heat transfer coefficient when compared to the smooth tube was found to be as high as 322% with maximum values reaching 336%. When compared to the micro-fin tube, the average increase in heat transfer coefficient was found to be as high as 196% with maximum values reaching 215%. A new unified correlation was also developed to predict the heat transfer coefficients in a herringbone and micro-fin tube. The correlation predicted the semi-local heat transfer coefficients accurately with 96% and 89% of the data points falling in the ± 20% region for the herringbone and micro-fin tube respectively. The average heat transfer coefficients were also accurately predicted with all the data points for the herringbone tube and 83% of the data points for the micro-fin tube falling in the ± 20% region. The trend of the new correlation also fitted the data accurately and the conclusion was made that the correlation is accurate and could be used successfully in practice.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lambrechts, Adriaan
- Date: 2008-11-27T07:26:46Z
- Subjects: Heat transmission , Condensation , Refrigerants
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14738 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1753
- Description: M.Ing. , An experimental investigation was conducted into the heat transfer characteristics of horizontal smooth, micro-fin and herringbone tubes during in-tube condensation. The study focused on the heat transfer coefficients of refrigerants R-22, R-134a and R-407C inside the three tubes. The herringbone tube results were compared to the smooth and micro-fin tube results. The average increase in the heat transfer coefficient when compared to the smooth tube was found to be as high as 322% with maximum values reaching 336%. When compared to the micro-fin tube, the average increase in heat transfer coefficient was found to be as high as 196% with maximum values reaching 215%. A new unified correlation was also developed to predict the heat transfer coefficients in a herringbone and micro-fin tube. The correlation predicted the semi-local heat transfer coefficients accurately with 96% and 89% of the data points falling in the ± 20% region for the herringbone and micro-fin tube respectively. The average heat transfer coefficients were also accurately predicted with all the data points for the herringbone tube and 83% of the data points for the micro-fin tube falling in the ± 20% region. The trend of the new correlation also fitted the data accurately and the conclusion was made that the correlation is accurate and could be used successfully in practice.
- Full Text:
Flow patterns during refrigerant condensation in smooth and enhanced tubes
- Authors: Owaga, Denis
- Date: 2009-01-20T07:05:17Z
- Subjects: Refrigerants , Condensation , Heat transmission , Heat exchangers
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14806 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1931
- Description: M.Ing. , The Montreal Protocol led to the phasing-out of ozone layer depleting refrigerants and replacing them with more environmentally friendly refrigerants, which in many cases caused heat transfer degradation in heat exchanger equipment. To make up for the heat transfer degradation, there was a need for the application of heat transfer enhancement techniques. One such technique is the use of micro-fin tubes as opposed to traditional smooth tubes. The purpose of this study is to develop a flow regime map for the condensation of R-22, R-407C and R-134a in a herringbone micro-fin tube. It was perceived that with the knowledge of flow patterns inside the tube and especially the annular-to-intermittent transition, it is possible to perform improved analyses of the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics. Experimental and analytical work was performed to investigate the flow regimes during condensation of the refrigerants in smooth, helical micro-fin and herringbone micro-fin tubes at an average saturation temperature of 40oC, with mass fluxes ranging from 300 to 800 kg/m2s. Condensation occurred in tube-in-tube type condensers with cooling water flowing in the annulus and the refrigerant in the inner tubes. The condensers consisted of eight sub-sections to allow for the acquisition of sectional heat transfer and pressure data. Various criteria were considered in order to generate flow regime maps. The Thome flow regime transition criterion was used and complemented with visually-observed and photographic imaging, as well as the objective power spectral density distributions of the pressure signals of the condensing refrigerants. The observed flow regimes were mainly annular flow and intermittent flow. Stratified-wavy flow was observed at low mass fluxes and low vapour qualities. There were notable similarities in the flow pattern between the smooth and micro-fin tubes. However, the experimental results show that the transition from annular to intermittent flow regimes occurred at average vapour quality values of 0.26, 0.29 and 0.48 for the herringbone micro-fin, the helical micro-fin and smooth tubes respectively. The combined analyses assisted in adapting the helical micro-fin tube condensing flow pattern map, to ensure its application in accurately predicting herringbone micro-fin tube condensation. The new transition criterion effectively predicts the delay in transition from annular to intermittent flow for all three refrigerants, condensing in the herringbone micro-fin tube.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Owaga, Denis
- Date: 2009-01-20T07:05:17Z
- Subjects: Refrigerants , Condensation , Heat transmission , Heat exchangers
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14806 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1931
- Description: M.Ing. , The Montreal Protocol led to the phasing-out of ozone layer depleting refrigerants and replacing them with more environmentally friendly refrigerants, which in many cases caused heat transfer degradation in heat exchanger equipment. To make up for the heat transfer degradation, there was a need for the application of heat transfer enhancement techniques. One such technique is the use of micro-fin tubes as opposed to traditional smooth tubes. The purpose of this study is to develop a flow regime map for the condensation of R-22, R-407C and R-134a in a herringbone micro-fin tube. It was perceived that with the knowledge of flow patterns inside the tube and especially the annular-to-intermittent transition, it is possible to perform improved analyses of the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics. Experimental and analytical work was performed to investigate the flow regimes during condensation of the refrigerants in smooth, helical micro-fin and herringbone micro-fin tubes at an average saturation temperature of 40oC, with mass fluxes ranging from 300 to 800 kg/m2s. Condensation occurred in tube-in-tube type condensers with cooling water flowing in the annulus and the refrigerant in the inner tubes. The condensers consisted of eight sub-sections to allow for the acquisition of sectional heat transfer and pressure data. Various criteria were considered in order to generate flow regime maps. The Thome flow regime transition criterion was used and complemented with visually-observed and photographic imaging, as well as the objective power spectral density distributions of the pressure signals of the condensing refrigerants. The observed flow regimes were mainly annular flow and intermittent flow. Stratified-wavy flow was observed at low mass fluxes and low vapour qualities. There were notable similarities in the flow pattern between the smooth and micro-fin tubes. However, the experimental results show that the transition from annular to intermittent flow regimes occurred at average vapour quality values of 0.26, 0.29 and 0.48 for the herringbone micro-fin, the helical micro-fin and smooth tubes respectively. The combined analyses assisted in adapting the helical micro-fin tube condensing flow pattern map, to ensure its application in accurately predicting herringbone micro-fin tube condensation. The new transition criterion effectively predicts the delay in transition from annular to intermittent flow for all three refrigerants, condensing in the herringbone micro-fin tube.
- Full Text:
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