To improve condensation heat transfer performance in a variety of systems, reduced channel sizes are used. However, few studies have been performed on complete heat exchangers. Hence, condensation heat transfer coefficients were studied experimentally in two ultracompact heat exchangers with a hydraulic diameter of 133 μm using steam as the working fluid. Effects of mass flux, average vapor quality, saturation pressure, and heat exchanger size were examined. The condensation heat transfer coefficients showed strong influence of mass flux and quality. However, the effects of saturation pressure and heat exchange size were not significant. Three conventional and three mini/microscale correlations were compared with the experimental data. The conventional and mini/microscale correlations developed for annular flow overpredict the data significantly. The Soliman correlation developed for mist flow showed the best agreement with the data.
Issue Section:
Research Papers
References
1.
Coleman
, J. W.
, and Garimella
S.
, 2003
, “Two-Phase Flow Regimes in Round, Square and Rectangular Tubes During Condensation of Refrigerant R134a
,” Int. J. Refrigeration
, 26
, pp. 117
–128
.10.1016/S0140-7007(02)00013-02.
Chen
, Y. P.
, and Cheng
, P.
, 2005
, “Condensation of Steam in Silicon Microchannels
,” Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transfer
, 32
, pp. 175
–183
.10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2004.02.0193.
Chen
, Y.
, Wu
, R.
, Shi
, M.
, Wu
, J.
, and Peterson
, G.P.
, 2009
, “Visualization Study of Steam Condensation in Triangular Microchannels
,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer
, 52
, pp. 5122
–5129
.10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2009.04.0344.
Bandhauer
, T. M.
, Agarwal
, A.
, and Garimella
, S.
, 2006
, “Measurement and Modeling of Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficients in Circular Microchannels
,” ASME J. Heat Transfer
, 128
, pp. 1050
–1059
.10.1115/1.23454275.
Wang
, H. S.
, and Rose
, J. W.
, 2004
, “A Theoretical Model of Film Condensation in Square Section Horizontal Microchannels
,” Chem. Eng. Res. Des.
, 82
, pp. 430
–434
.10.1205/0263876043230501376.
Kaneko
, A.
, Takeuchi
, G.
, Abe
, Y.
, and Suzuki
, Y.
, 2009
, “Condensation Behavior in a Microchannel Heat Exchanger
,” J. Therm. Sci. Technol.
, 4
, pp. 469
–482
.10.1299/jtst.4.4697.
Fernando
, P.
, Palm
, B.
, Ameel
, T.
, Lundqvist
, P.
, and Granryd
, E.
, 2008
, “A Minichannel Aluminium Tube Heat Exchanger—Part III: Condenser Performance With Propane
,” Int. J. Refrigeration
, 31
, pp. 696
–708
.10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2008.02.0138.
Chato
, J. C.
, 1962
, “Laminar Condensation Inside Horizontal and Inclined Tubes
,” J. ASHRAE
, 4
, pp. 52
–60
.9.
Nusselt
W.
, 1916, “Die Oberfla¨chenkondensation des Wasserdampfes
,” Zeitschr. Ver. Deutsch. Ing.
, 60
, pp. 541
–569
.10.
Kutateladze
, S. S.
, 1963
, Fundamentals of Heat Transfer
, 2nd ed., Academic Press
, New York
, pp. 298
–320
.11.
Yan
, Y. Y.
, Lio
, H. C.
, and Lin
, T. F.
, 1999
, “Condensation Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of Refrigerant R-134a in a Plate Heat Exchanger
,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer
, 42
, pp. 993
–1006
.10.1016/S0017-9310(98)00217-812.
Fernandez-Seara
, J.
, Uhia
, F. J.
, Sieres
, J.
, and Campo
, A.
, 2007
, “A General Review of the Wilson Plot Method and Its Modifications to Determine Convection Coefficients in Heat Exchange Devices
,” Appl. Therm. Eng.
, 27
, pp. 2745
–2757
.10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2007.04.00413.
Rose
, J. W.
, 2004
, “Heat-Transfer Coefficients, Wilson Plots and Accuracy of Thermal Measurements
,” Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci.
, 28
, pp. 77
–86
.10.1016/S0894-1777(03)00025-614.
Kumar
, R.
, Varma
, H. K.
, Agrawal
, K. N.
, and Mohanty
, B.
, 2001
, “A Comprehensive Study of Modified Wilson Plot Technique to Determine the Heat Transfer Coefficient During Condensation of Steam and R-134a Over Single Horizontal Plain and Finned Tubes
,” Heat Transfer Eng.
, 22
, pp. 3
–12
.10.1080/01457630146221815.
Sieder
, E. N.
, and Tate
, G. E.
, 1936
, “Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of Liquids in Tubes
,” Ind. Eng. Chem.
, 28
, pp. 1429
–1435
.10.1021/ie50324a02716.
Dittmeyer
, R.
, 2010, private communication.17.
Ulrichson
, D. L.
, and Schmitz
, R. A.
, 1964
, “Laminar-Flow Heat Transfer in the Entrance Region of Circular Tubes
,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer
, 8
, pp. 253
–258
.10.1016/0017-9310(65)90112-218.
Hausen
, H.
, 1943
, “Darstellung des Warmeuberganges in Rohren durch verallgemeinerte Potenzbeziehungen
,” Z. VDI Beih. Verfahrenstech
, 4
, pp. 91
–98
.19.
Moffat
, R. J.
, 1988
, “Describing the Uncertainties in Experimental Results
,” Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci.
, 1
, pp. 3
–17
.10.1016/0894-1777(88)90043-X20.
Brandner
, J. J.
, 2010, private communication.21.
Yan
, Y. Y.
, and Lin
, T. F.
, 1999
, “Condensation Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of Refrigerant R-134a in a Small Pipe
,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer
, 42
, pp. 697
–708
.10.1016/S0017-9310(98)00195-122.
Cavallini
, A.
, Censi
, G.
, Col
, D. D.
, Doretti
, L.
, Longo
, G. A.
, and Rossetto
, L.
, 2001
, “Experimental Investigation on Condensation Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of New HFC Refrigerants (R134a, R125, R32, R410A, R236ea) in a Horizontal Smooth Tube
,” Int. J. Refrigeration
, 24
, pp. 73
–87
.10.1016/S0140-7007(00)00070-023.
Garimella
, S.
, 1999
, “Condensation Flow Mechanisms in Microchannels: Basis for Pressure Drop and Heat Transfer Models
,” Heat Transfer Eng.
, 25
, pp. 104
–116
.10.1080/0145763049028048924.
Agarwal
, A.
, and Garimella
, S.
, 2010
, “Representative Results for Condensation Measurements at Hydraulic Diameters ∼100 Microns
,” ASME J. Heat Transfer
, 132
, pp. 1667
–1681
.10.1115/1.400087925.
Shah
, M. M.
, 1979
, “A General Correlation for Heat Transfer During Film Condensation Inside Pipes
,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer
, 22
, pp. 547
–556
.10.1016/0017-9310(79)90058-926.
Shah
, M. M.
, 2009
, “An Improved and Extended General Correlation for Heat Transfer During Condensation in Plain Tubes
,” HVAC Refrigeration Res.
, 15
, pp. 889
–913
.10.1080/10789669.2009.1039087127.
Soliman
, M.
, Schuster
, J. R.
, and Berenson
, P. J.
, 1968
, “A General Heat Transfer Correlation for Annular Flow Condensation
,” ASME J. Heat Transfer
, 90
, pp. 267
–275
.10.1115/1.359749728.
Cavallini
, A.
, Doretti
, L.
, Matkovic
, M.
, and Rossetto
, L.
, 2006
, “Update on Condensation Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Inside Minichannels
,” Heat Transfer Eng.
, 27
, pp. 74
–87
.10.1080/0145763050052390729.
Bandhauer
, T. M.
, Agarwal
, A.
, and Garimella
, S.
, 2006
, “Measurement and Modeling of Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficients in Circular Microchannels
,” ASME J. Heat Transfer
, 128
, pp. 1050
–1059
.10.1115/1.234542730.
Agarwal
, A.
, Bandhauer
, T. M.
, and Garimella
, S.
, 2010
, “Measurement and Modeling of Condensation Heat Transfer in Non-Circular Microchannels
,” Int. J. Refrigeration
, 33
, pp. 1169
–1179
.10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2009.12.033Copyright © 2014 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.
