Experimental and Simulation Analysis of Microchannel Evaporators

Song, S.; Bullard, C.W.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/13406 Copy

Description

Title

Experimental and Simulation Analysis of Microchannel Evaporators

Author(s)

• Song, S.
• Bullard, C.W.

Issue Date

2002-03

Keyword(s)

• Experimental and Simulation Analysis of Microchannel Evaporators
• microchannel evaporators
• microchannel condensers
• heat pumps

Abstract

Microchannel condensers have dominated the automotive a/c market by maximizing performance for a fixed size and weight, but must operate as evaporators if they are to be used in heat pumps. This report presents a microchannel evaporator model, along with experimental validation. The new model structure provides a user-friendly interface and makes it much easier to have good initial guesses. Two different approaches for predicting wetted surface heat and mass transfer are discussed and compared, and the effects of inlet humidity and inclination angle were explored experimentally. Superheat measurements were used, together with the model to detect significant refrigerant maldistribution that reduced capacity approximately 3%. Frost patterns were used to observe two-phase flow distribution in a microchannel evaporator, and the balance between inertial, gravitational and shear forces was investigated for the vertical headers.

Publisher

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center. College of Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Series/Report Name or Number

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center CR-47

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/13406

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