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Evaporation heat transfer and flow characteristics of R-134a flowing through internally grooved tubes

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Abstract

This article describes experimental investigations of the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of R-134a flowing inside internally grooved tubes. The test tubes are one smooth tube and four grooved tubes. All test tubes are made from type 304 stainless steel, have an inner diameter of 7.1 mm, are 2,000 mm long and are installed horizontally. The test section is uniformly heated by a DC power supply to create evaporation conditions. The groove depth of all grooved tubes is fixed at 0.2 mm. The experimental conditions are conducted at saturation temperatures of 20, 25 and 30°C, heat fluxes of 5, 10 and 15 kW/m2, and mass fluxes of 300, 500 and 700 kg/m2 s. The effects of groove pitch, mass flux, heat flux, and saturation temperature on heat transfer coefficient and frictional pressure drop are discussed. The results illustrate that the grooved tubes have a significant effect on the heat transfer coefficient and frictional pressure drop augmentations.

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Abbreviations

A :

surface area of the test section (m2)

c p :

specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg K)

G :

mass flux (kg/m2 s)

h :

heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

I :

current (A)

i :

enthalpy (J/kg)

k :

thermal conductivity (W/m K)

L :

length of the test tube (m)

\( \dot{m} \) :

mass flow rate (kg/s)

N :

number of the thermocouples on the inner wall surface

∆P :

pressure drop (Pa)

\( \dot{Q} \) :

heat transfer rate (W)

q′′:

heat flux (W/m2)

r :

radius (m)

T :

temperature (oC)

V :

voltage (V)

x :

average vapour quality

X :

position of the test section (m)

ρ:

density (kg/m3)

α:

void fraction

a:

acceleration

avg:

average

f:

friction

g:

gravity

in:

inlet

i:

inside

l:

liquid

out:

outlet

o:

outside

ph:

pre-heater

ref:

refrigerant

sat:

saturation

TS:

test section

v:

vapor

w:

water

wall:

wall surface

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported financially by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the National Research University Project, whose guidance and assistance are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also wish to acknowledge Thai-German Products Public Company Limited for providing the test tubes.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Somchai Wongwises, Suriyan Laohalertdecha, Jatuporn Kaew-on, Weerapun Duangthongsuk, Kanit Aroonrat & Kittipong Sakamatapan

  2. The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Suriyan Laohalertdecha

  3. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Papayom, Phattalung, 93110, Thailand

    Jatuporn Kaew-on

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, South-East Asia University, Bangkok, 10160, Thailand

    Weerapun Duangthongsuk

Authors
  1. Somchai Wongwises
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  2. Suriyan Laohalertdecha
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  3. Jatuporn Kaew-on
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  4. Weerapun Duangthongsuk
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  5. Kanit Aroonrat
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  6. Kittipong Sakamatapan
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Correspondence to Somchai Wongwises.

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Wongwises, S., Laohalertdecha, S., Kaew-on, J. et al. Evaporation heat transfer and flow characteristics of R-134a flowing through internally grooved tubes. Heat Mass Transfer 47, 629–640 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-010-0748-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-010-0748-6

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