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Effect of EHD on heat transfer enhancement during two-phase condensation of R-134a at high mass flux in a horizontal smooth tube

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Abstract

In this study, effect of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) on the condensation heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop of pure R-134a are experimentally investigated. The test section is a 2.5 m long counterflow double tube heat exchanger with refrigerant flowing in the inner tube and cooling water flowing in the annulus. The inner tube is made from smooth horizontal copper tubing of 9.52 mm outer diameter. The electrode is made from stainless steel wire of 1.47 mm diameter. The test runs are performed at average saturated temperatures ranging between 40 and 60°C, mass flux ranging between 200 and 600 kg/m2 s, heat flux ranging between 10 and 20 kW/m2 and applied voltage at 2.5 kV. For the presence of the electrode, the experimental results indicate that the maximum heat transfer enhancement ratio is around 30% while the maximum increase in pressure drop is about 25%.

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Abbreviations

Cp:

specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg K)

E :

electric field strength (V/m)

f e :

EHD force density (N/m3)

G :

mass flux (kg/m2 s)

h :

heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)

i :

specific enthalpy (J/kg)

L :

tube length (m)

m :

mass flow rate (kg/s)

T :

temperature (°C)

Q :

heat transfer rate (W)

q :

electric field space charge density (C/m3)

q″:

average heat flux (W/m2)

x :

quality (kg/kg)

ε:

permittivity of the liquid (F/m)

ε0 :

permittivity of free space (8.854 × 10−12) (F/m)

κ :

relative permittivity \( {\left( {\frac{\varepsilon } {{\varepsilon _{0} }}} \right)} \)

ρ:

condensate density (kg/m3)

avg:

average

e:

with EHD

o:

without EHD

out:

outlet

ref:

refrigerant

fg:

vaporization latent quantity

in:

inlet

ph:

pre-heater

sat:

saturation

TS:

test section

w:

water

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported financially by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE) whose guidance and assistance are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Laboratory (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Suriyan Laohalertdecha & Somchai Wongwises

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  1. Suriyan Laohalertdecha
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  2. Somchai Wongwises
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Correspondence to Somchai Wongwises.

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Laohalertdecha, S., Wongwises, S. Effect of EHD on heat transfer enhancement during two-phase condensation of R-134a at high mass flux in a horizontal smooth tube. Heat Mass Transfer 43, 871–880 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-006-0170-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-006-0170-2

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