Local condensing heat transfer coefficients in the annular flow regime

AIChE Journal ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1037-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip G. Kosky ◽  
Fred W. Staub
Author(s):  
Srinivas Garimella

This paper presents an overview of the use of flow visualization in micro- and mini-channel geometries for the development of pressure drop and heat transfer models during condensation of refrigerants. Condensation flow mechanisms for round, square and rectangular tubes with hydraulic diameters in the range 1–5 mm for 0 < x < 1 and 150 kg/m2-s and 750 kg/m2-s were recorded using unique experimental techniques that permit flow visualization during the condensation process. The effect of channel shape and miniaturization on the flow regime transitions was documented. The flow mechanisms were categorized into four different flow regimes: intermittent flow, wavy flow, annular flow, and dispersed flow. These flow regimes were further subdivided into several flow patterns within each regime. It was observed that the intermittent and annular flow regimes become larger as the tube hydraulic diameter is decreased, at the expense of the wavy flow regime. These maps and transition lines can be used to predict the flow regime or pattern that will be established for a given mass flux, quality and tube geometry. These observed flow mechanisms, together with pressure drop measurements, are being used to develop experimentally validated models for pressure drop during condensation in each of these flow regimes for a variety of circular and noncircular channels with 0.4 < Dh < 5 mm. These flow regime-based models yield substantially better pressure drop predictions than the traditionally used correlations that are primarily based on air-water flows for large diameter tubes. Condensation heat transfer coefficients were also measured using a unique thermal amplification technique that simultaneously allows for accurate measurement of the low heat transfer rates over small increments of refrigerant quality and high heat transfer coefficients characteristic of microchannels. Models for these measured heat transfer coefficients are being developed using the documented flow mechanisms and the corresponding pressure drop models as the basis.


Author(s):  
Ahmet Selim Dalkilic ◽  
Somchai Wongwises

The present study investigates an intensive comparison of flow regime maps for the verification of annular condensation flow of R134a checked by sight glasses at the inlet and outlet sections of a vertical smooth copper tube having inner diameter of 8.1 mm and a length of 500 mm. R134a and water are used as working fluids in the tube side and annular side of a double tube heat exchanger, respectively. The experimental apparatus are designed to capable of changing the different operating parameters such as mass flow rate, condensation temperature of refrigerant, cooling water temperature and mass flow rate of cooling water etc. and investigate their effect on heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops. Condensation experiments are performed at the mass flux of 456 kg m−2s−1, the saturation temperature is around 40°C, heat fluxes and average qualities are between 16.16–50.89 kW m−2 and 0.81–0.93 respectively. Considering Chen et al.’s annular flow theory on the heat transfer coefficients that are independent from tube orientation as long as annular flow exists along the tube length, experimental data belong to annular flow inside the test tube are plotted on the various flow regime maps and used in the flow regime identification correlations proposed for two-phase flow in horizontal and vertical tubes separately. In spite of their different operating conditions, Barnea et al., Hewitt and Robertson, Baker, Thome, Kattan et al., Chen et al.’s flow regime maps and Taitel and Dukler’s, Dobson’s, Akbar et al.’s, Breber et al.’s, Cavallini et al.’s, Soliman’s flow pattern correlations from literature are found to be predictive for the annular flow conditions in the test tube.


1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Dobson ◽  
J. C. Chato

An experimental study of heat transfer and flow regimes during condensation of refrigerants in horizontal tubes was conducted. Measurements were made in smooth, round tubes with diameters ranging from 3.14 mm to 7.04 mm. The refrigerants tested were R-12, R-22, R-134a, and near-azeotropic blends of R-32/R-125 in 50 percent/50 percent and 60 percent/40 percent compositions. The study focused primarily on measurement and prediction of condensing heat transfer coefficients and the relationship between heat transfer coefficients and two-phase flow regimes. Flow regimes were observed visually at the inlet and outlet of the test condenser as the heat transfer data were collected. Stratified, wavy, wavy annular, annular, annular mist, and slug flows were observed. True mist flow without a stable wall film was not observed during condensation tests. The experimental results were compared with existing flow regime maps and some corrections are suggested. The heat transfer behavior was controlled by the prevailing flow regime. For the purpose of analyzing condensing heat transfer behavior, the various flow regimes were divided into two broad categories of gravity-dominated and shear-dominated flows. In the gravity dominated flow regime, the dominant heat transfer mode was laminar film condensation in the top of the tube. This regime was characterized by heat transfer coefficients that depended on the wall-to-refrigerant temperature difference but were nearly independent of mass flux. In the shear-dominated flow regime, forced-convective condensation was the dominant heat transfer mechanism. This regime was characterized by heat transfer coefficients that were independent of temperature difference but very dependent on mass flux and quality. Heat transfer correlations that were developed for each of these flow regimes successfully predicted data from the present study and from several other sources.


Author(s):  
Sunil Mehendale

In HVACR equipment, internally enhanced round tube (microfin) designs such as axial, cross-grooved, helical, and herringbone are commonly used to enhance the boiling and condensing performance of evaporators, condensers, and heat pumps. Typically, such tubes are mechanically expanded by a mandrel into a fin pack to create an interference fit between the tube outside surface and the fin collar to minimize the thermal contact resistance between tube and fin. However, during this expansion process, the internal enhancements undergo varying amounts of deformation, which degrades the in-tube thermal performance. Extensive data on condensing heat transfer coefficients in microfin tubes have been reported in the open literature. However, researchers have seldom used expanded tubes to acquire and report such data. Hence, it is always questionable to use such pristine tube data for designing heat exchangers and HVACR systems. Furthermore, the HVACR industry has been experiencing steeply rising copper costs, and this trend is expected to continue in coming years. So, many equipment manufacturers and suppliers are actively converting tubes from copper to aluminum. However, because of appreciable differences between the material properties of aluminum and copper, as well as other manufacturing variables, such as mandrel dimensions, lubricant used, etc., tube expansion typically deforms aluminum fins more than copper fins. Based on an analysis of the surface area changes arising from tube expansion, and an assessment of the best extant in-tube condensation heat transfer correlations, this work proposes a method of estimating the impact of tube expansion on in-tube condensation heat transfer. The analysis leads to certain interesting and useful findings correlating fin geometry and in-tube condensation thermal resistance. This method can then be applied to more realistically design HVACR heat exchangers and systems.


Author(s):  
Jason Chan ◽  
Brian E. Fehring ◽  
Roman W. Morse ◽  
Kristofer M. Dressler ◽  
Gregory F. Nellis ◽  
...  

Abstract A thermoreflectance method to measure wall temperature in two-phase annular flow is described. In high heat flux conditions, momentary dry-out occurs as the liquid film vaporizes, resulting in dramatic decreases in heat transfer coefficient. Simultaneous liquid and vapor thermoreflectance measurements allow calculations of instantaneous and time-averaged heat transfer coefficients. Validation, calibration and uncertainty of the technique are discussed.


Author(s):  
Ahmet Selim Dalkilic ◽  
Suriyan Laohalertdecha ◽  
Somchai Wongwises

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the usage of annular flow models and correlations valid especially for horizontal tubes to the downward annular flow in the vertical test section. Condensation experiments are performed at the mass flux of 340 kg m−2s−1 during co-current downward condensation of R134a in a vertical smooth copper tube having inner diameter of 8.1 mm and a length of 500 mm. The saturation temperatures are between 40–50°C, heat fluxes are between 12.8 and 45.36 kW m−2, average qualities are ranging between 0.76–0.95. The experimental apparatus are designed to capable of changing the different operating parameters such as mass flow rate, condensation temperature of refrigerant, cooling water temperature and mass flow rate of cooling water etc and investigate their effect on heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops. Considering Chen et al.’s annular flow theory on the heat transfer coefficients that are independent from tube orientation as long as annular flow exists along the tube length, the average predicted condensation heat transfer coefficient of the refrigerant is determined by means of the annular flow model of Kosky and Staub, and Von Karman universal velocity distribution correlations using interfacial shear stress proposed for horizontal and vertical tubes separately. Some well-known annular flow correlations generally used for horizontal tubes in the literature were compared with experimental condensation heat transfer coefficient obtained from vertical tube data during annular flow conditions in the test section.


Author(s):  
Li Ye ◽  
Huajun Peng ◽  
Bo Zhou ◽  
Mo Yang ◽  
Zheng Li ◽  
...  

Numerical studies have been conducted to determine the heat transfer performances in a Taylor-Poiseuille flow regime. The flow is confined between two different heated, concentric cylinders. The inner cylinder is allowed to rotate while the outer one remains fixed, an axial flow is added. The influences of rotation Taylor number and axial Reynolds number on heat transfer coefficients are investigated. Results show that temperature in the flow regime presents a remarkable sinusoidal periodicity as the result of the axial arrangement of Taylor vortices, so does the local heat transfer coefficients. Heat transfer efficiency gets strengthened with increasing Taylor number, while damped with increasing Reynolds number. The accuracy of the simulation is validated by compared to the existing linear stability analysis.


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