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Condensation Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of R410A in Micro-Fin Tubes and Three-Dimensional Surface Enhanced Tubes

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Gao

    (Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 99 Songling Road, Qingdao 266061, China)

  • Hong Cheng

    (Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 99 Songling Road, Qingdao 266061, China)

  • Wei Li

    (Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 99 Songling Road, Qingdao 266061, China
    Department of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310027, China)

  • David John Kukulka

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, State University of New York College at Buffalo, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA)

  • Rick Smith

    (Vipertex Division, Rigidized Metals Corporation, 658 Ohio Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA)

Abstract

Condensation heat transfer characteristics (using R410A as the working fluid) were studied experimentally to evaluate the heat transfer performance in copper and stainless-steel heat transfer tubes (smooth and enhanced). Experiments were carried out for a mass flux that varied from 250 to 450 kg m −2 s −1 , at a saturation temperature of 318 K. Single-phase heat balance verification found that the heat loss is less than 6%, and the deviation between single-phase experimental results and various prediction correlations is less than 15%. Additionally, tube side condensation flow patterns were observed and recorded. Experimental results found that the enhancement ratio of the condensation heat transfer coefficient (enhanced tube/smooth tube) of the three-dimensional surface (1EHT) tube is in the range of 1.15~1.90, while the ratio of the micro-fin (HX) tube is in the range of 1.18~1.80. Heat transfer performance is affected by material conductivity, with the thermal conductivity of the smooth tube slightly affecting the heat transfer performance; larger heat transfer enhancements are produced in the enhanced tubes. At a low mass flow rates and vapor qualities, the flow pattern is a stratified wavy flow, while at higher mass flow rates and vapor qualities, the flow pattern is an annular flow (with the area in the enhanced tube being larger than the area of a smooth tube). Flow patterns in the smooth tube are consistent with the predicted values shown in previously reported flow pattern maps. A flow pattern diagram for condensation heat transfer in enhanced tubes is presented as part of this study. The condensation heat transfer coefficient increases with an increase in mass flow. When the mass flow rate increases, the turbulence of the liquid flow increases and the liquid film becomes thinner; thermal resistance is reduced and the heat transfer coefficient increases. Heat transfer values at lower mass velocities increase slightly with increasing mass flux values; however, at higher mass flux rates the heat transfer increase is larger than that at low mass flux values. Finally, tubes produced from high thermal conductivity materials produce larger heat transfer performance gains than the gains found in smooth tubes; small diameter tubes produce larger gains than larger diameter tubes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Gao & Hong Cheng & Wei Li & David John Kukulka & Rick Smith, 2022. "Condensation Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of R410A in Micro-Fin Tubes and Three-Dimensional Surface Enhanced Tubes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:8:p:2951-:d:796052
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Boren Zheng & Jiacheng Wang & Yu Guo & David John Kukulka & Weiyu Tang & Rick Smith & Zhichuan Sun & Wei Li, 2021. "An Experimental Study of In-Tube Condensation and Evaporation Using Enhanced Heat Transfer (EHT) Tubes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Qingpu Li & Leren Tao & Lei Li & Yongpan Hu & Shengli Wu, 2017. "Experimental Investigation of the Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient of R134a inside Horizontal Smooth and Micro-Fin Tubes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Gu, Yuheng & Ding, Yudong & Liao, Qiang & Fu, Qian & Zhu, Xun & Wang, Hong, 2020. "Condensation heat transfer characteristics of moist air outside 3-D finned tubes with different wettability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
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