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Experimental Study of the Condensation of Retrofit Refrigerant R32 Over Single Horizontal Plain and 2D Low-Finned Integral Tubes

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Abstract

The present study deals with the film condensation of the retrofit refrigerant R32 over a single horizontal plain and four 2D low-finned integral tubes with varying fin densities, viz., 24 FPI, 32 FPI, 40 FPI, and 48 FPI, having trapezoidal fin shapes, at a condensing temperature of 40 ± 0.5 °C and subcooling temperature ranging from 3 to 11 °C. For the plain and complete 2D low-finned integral finned tubes under consideration, the coefficient of condensing-side heat transfer falls with an increase in the sub-cooling temperature. As the fin density increases from 24 to 32 FPI, the condensing-side heat transfer increases by an average increment of 31%, and as the fin density increases further to 40 FPI and then to 48 FPI, the condensation heat transfer decreases by 13.3 and 23.8%, respectively. Among the 2D low-finned integral tubes tested, the 32 FPI fin density showed the best heat transmission performance. Furthermore, following a similar pattern, the coefficients of condensing-side heat transfer for the entire tubes fall as the heat flux rises. In comparison with the plain tube, the entire 2D low-finned integral finned tubes, viz., 24 FPI, 32 FPI, 40 FPI, and 48 FPI, showed higher coefficients of condensation heat transfers with enhancement ratios of 4.4, 5.7, 4.9, and 4.6, respectively. Among the six theoretical models compared, the Honda Nozu model showed the lowest average deviation percentage compared to the experimental values. Nusselt’s model predicted the experimental findings for the plain tube with an average variation of ± 10%.

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Abbreviations

FPI:

Fins per inch

FPM:

Fins per meter

GWP:

Global warming potential

HTER:

Heat transfer enhancement ratio

ODP:

Ozone depletion potential

SAER:

Surface area increments ratio

\(A\) :

The surface area of the test tube, mm2

\({C}_{p}\) :

Specific heat at constant pressure, kJ/kg·K

\(d\) :

Diameter, mm

\(f\) :

Friction coefficient

f c :

Half-perimeter fully flooded fraction

\(g\) :

Gravity, m/s2

\(h\) :

Fin height, mm

\({h}_{o}\) :

Coefficient of condensation heat transfer, kW/m2·K

\({h}_{fg}\) :

Enthalpy of vaporization, kJ/kg

\(i\) :

Enthalpy, kJ/kg

\({i}^{\mathrm{^{\prime}}}\) :

Modified enthalpy, kJ/kg

\(k\) :

Condensate thermal conductivity, mW/m·K

\({K}_{o}\) :

Overall heat transfer coefficient, kW/m2·K

\(l\) :

Characteristic length, mm

\(L\) :

Length of the test tube, mm

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate, kg/s

\(Nu\) :

Nusselt number

\(P\) :

Pressure, Pa

\(Pr\) :

Prandtl number

\({P}_{f}\) :

Fin pitch, mm

\(\Delta P\) :

Pressure drops, Pa

\(Q\) :

Rate of heat transfer, kW

\(q\) :

Heat flux, kW/m2

\(R\) :

Radius, mm

\(\mathrm{Re}\) :

Reynolds number

\({R}_{f}\) :

Fouling resistance

\({R}_{w}\) :

Conduction thermal resistance

\(T\) :

Temperature, °C

\(t\) :

Fin thickness, mm

\({\Delta T}_{f}\) :

Wall sub-cooling temperature, °C

\(\Delta {T}_{m}\) :

Log-mean temperature, °C

U :

Absolute uncertainty

\(\Gamma\) :

Film flowrate, kg/m·s

\(\delta\) :

Film thickness, m

\(\mu\) :

Viscosity, Pa·s

\(v\) :

Velocity, m/s

\(\rho\) :

Density, kg/m3

\(\sigma\) :

Surface tension, Pa·m

\(\theta\) :

Index angle, ° (degree)

\({\varphi }_{f}\) :

Retention angle

\(\lambda\) :

Thermal conductivity, kW/m·K

\(\mathrm{ave}\) :

Average

b :

Fin bottom

c:

Coolant side

\({C}_{1}\) :

Coolant inlet

\({C}_{2}\) :

Coolant outlet

\(\mathrm{con}\) :

Condensation

\(cw\) :

Coolant water

exp:

Experimental

\(f\) :

Saturated liquid

\(i\) :

Inlet, internal

\(l\) :

Liquid

Nu :

Nusselt’s predicted

\(o\) :

Outside, outlet

r :

Root of fin

\(\mathrm{ref}\) :

Refrigerant fluid

\(\mathrm{sat}\) :

Saturation

\(t\) :

Tube, fin tip

\(v\) :

Saturated vapor, vapor side

x :

Measured quantity

y :

Parameter

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our institute, IIT Roorkee, for providing experimental facilities and unending support.

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  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India

    Ibrahim Mustefa Mohammed & Ravi Kumar

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  1. Ibrahim Mustefa Mohammed
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IMM worked from the research idea generation to involvement in the experimental test assessment. He was also involved in the preparation of the research article. RK established a plan for the scientific manipulation of the research idea and was involved in the experimental data validation and preparation of the research article.

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Correspondence to Ibrahim Mustefa Mohammed.

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Mohammed, I.M., Kumar, R. Experimental Study of the Condensation of Retrofit Refrigerant R32 Over Single Horizontal Plain and 2D Low-Finned Integral Tubes. Arab J Sci Eng 49, 1931–1953 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-08080-5

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