Evaluation of Pressure Drop of Two-Phase Flow Boiling with R290 in Horizontal Mini Channel

Various experiments on the pressure drop of a two-phase flow boiling in a mini channel tube have been carried out. This study is aimed at characteristics of the pressure drop of a two-phase flow boiling using a refrigerant R290. The experiment uses a horizontal, stainless steel, 2-m-long mini-channel tube with a 3-mm inner diameter. The experiment has been carried out using various data with the vapor qualities ranging from 0.1 to 0.9, the mass fluxes ranging 50 kg/m2s to 180 kg/m2s, and the heat fluxes ranging from 5 kW/m2 to 20 kW/m2. Furthermore, several homogeneous and separated methods were used to predict the experimental data. Li and Hibiki’s correlation give the best overall deviation pressure drop value is the most accurate with its deviation amounting 19.47%.

Evolution of the Material Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of A1100 Aluminum Alloy within a Complex Porthole Die during Extrusion

Micro channel tube (MCT) is widely employed in industry due to its excellent efficiency in heat transfer. An MCT is commonly produced through extrusion within a porthole die, where severe plastic deformation is inevitably involved. Moreover, the plastic deformation, which dramatically affects the final property of the MCT, varies significantly from location to location. In order to understand the development of the microstructure and its effect on the final property of the MCT, the viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) model, together with the finite element analysis and the flow line model, is employed in the current study. The flow line model is used to reproduce the local velocity gradient within the complex porthole die, while VPSC model is employed to predict the evolution of the microstructure accordingly. In addition, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurement and mechanical tests are used to characterize the evolution of the microstructure and the property of the MCT. The simulation results agree well with the corresponding experimental ones. The influence of the material’s flow line on the evolution of the orientation and morphology of the grains, and the property of the produced MCT are discussed in detail.