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Prediction of heat transfer coefficients and friction factors for evaporation of R-134a flowing inside corrugated tubes

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Abstract

In this study, experimental and simulation studies of the evaporation heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of R-134a flowing through corrugated tubes are conducted. The test section is a horizontal counter-flow concentric tube-in-tube heat exchanger 2.0 m in length. A smooth tube and corrugated tubes with inner diameters of 8.7 mm are used as the inner tube. The outer tube is made from a smooth copper tube with an inner diameter of 21.2 mm. The corrugation pitches used in this study are 5.08, 6.35, and 8.46 mm. Similarly, the corrugation depths are 1, 1.25, and 1.5 mm, respectively. The results show that the maximum heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop obtained from the corrugated tube are up to 22 and 19 % higher than those obtained from the smooth tube, respectively. In addition, the average difference of the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop between the simulation model and experimental data are about 10 and 15 %, respectively.

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Abbreviations

A:

Surface area of the test section (m2)

cp :

Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg °C)

d:

Inner diameter (m)

D:

Outer diameter (m)

e:

Corrugation depth (mm)

f:

Friction factor

G:

Mass flux (kg/m2 s)

h:

Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 °C)

i:

Enthalpy (J/kg)

if :

Enthalpy of the saturated liquid (J/kg)

ifg :

Enthalpy of vaporization (J/kg)

k:

Thermal conductivity (W/m °C)

L:

Length of the test tube (m)

LMTD:

Logarithmic mean temperature difference

m:

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

Nu:

Nusselt number

p:

Corrugation pitch (mm)

Pr:

Prandtl number

Q:

Heat transfer rate (W)

Re:

Reynolds number

q′′:

Heat flux (W/m2)

T:

Temperature (°C)

U:

Overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

x:

Vapour quality

X:

Martinelli parameter

α:

Void fraction

β:

Helix angle (degree)

ε:

Relative roughness (m)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

\( \phi_{l}^{2} \) :

Two-phase multiplier

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (Pa s)

\( \Updelta P \) :

Pressure drop (Pa/m)

a:

Acceleration

avg:

Average

eq:

Equivalent

f:

Friction

g:

Gravitation

i:

Inside

in:

Inlet

l:

Liquid

o:

Outside

out:

Outlet

ph:

Pre-heater

ref:

Refrigerant

sat:

Saturation

tp:

Two-phase

TTS,in :

Based on temperature of the test section inlet

TTS,out :

Based on temperature of the test section outlet

TS:

Test section

v:

Vapor

w:

Water

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported financially by the Thailand Research Fund, the National Research University Project and National Science and Technology Development Agency, whose guidance and assistance are gratefully acknowledged. The third and fourth authors would like to thank Professor Somchai Wongwises for providing him fellowships during his research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    S. Laohalertdecha, K. Aroonrat, S. Kaewnai & S. Wongwises

  2. Heat and Thermodynamics Division, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Yildiz, Besiktas, 34349, Istanbul, Turkey

    A. S. Dalkilic

  3. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

    O. Mahian

Authors
  1. S. Laohalertdecha
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  2. K. Aroonrat
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  3. A. S. Dalkilic
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  4. O. Mahian
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  5. S. Kaewnai
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  6. S. Wongwises
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Correspondence to S. Wongwises.

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Laohalertdecha, S., Aroonrat, K., Dalkilic, A.S. et al. Prediction of heat transfer coefficients and friction factors for evaporation of R-134a flowing inside corrugated tubes. Heat Mass Transfer 50, 469–482 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1252-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1252-6

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