Abstract
The ultimate goal of this work is to find the optimal condition for the even distribution of two-phase mixture at header-channel junctions simulating the corresponding parts of compact heat exchangers. The cross section of the header and the channels were 14 mm × 14 mm and 12 mm × 1.6 mm, respectively. Two different distances between channels (10 and 21.6 mm) and four different intrusion depths (0, 1.75, 3.5 and 7 mm) beyond the inner wall of the header were tested for the mass flux and the mass quality ranges of 70–165 kg/m2s and 0.3–0.7, respectively. Air and water were used as the test fluids. The flow distribution pattern was relatively insensitive to the channel distance because the flow configuration inside the header remained almost unchanged. On the other hand, the distribution pattern was changed drastically with the intrusion depth of the channels. The optimum intrusion depth for even flow distribution was identified to be 1/8 of the hydraulic diameter of the header cross-section for the experimental conditions tested in the present work.
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This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Yang Na
Jun Kyoung Lee received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Busan National University in 1999. He then received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from KAIST in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Dr. Lee is currently a Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation at Kyungnam University in Masan, Korea. Dr. Lee’s research interests are in the area of two-phase flow and heat transfer, micro-fluidics, cryogenic devices for superconductivity, thermal management system for automobile.
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Lee, J.K. Optimum channel intrusion depth for uniform flow distribution at header-channel junctions. J Mech Sci Technol 24, 1411–1416 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-0414-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-0414-4