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Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications
An International Journal of Computation and Methodology
Volume 69, 2016 - Issue 5
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Original Articles

Numerical simulation of condensation for R410A at varying saturation temperatures in mini/micro tubes

, &
Pages 464-478 | Received 07 Apr 2015, Accepted 10 Jun 2015, Published online: 30 Nov 2015
 

ABSTRACT

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of condensation for R410A inside horizontal tubes (dh = 0.25, 1, and 2 mm) at saturation temperatures Tsat = 310, 320, and 330 K are investigated numerically. The results indicate that local heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop gradients increase with increasing mass flux and vapor quality and with decreasing tube diameter and saturation temperature. Liquid film thickness also increases with increasing saturation temperature because of the lower surface tension at higher saturation temperature. When gravity dominates the condensation process, a vortex with its core lying at the bottom of the tube is found in the vapor phase region. For the annular flow regime, stream traces point from the symmetry plan to the liquid–vapor interface, where the vapor phase becomes the liquid phase. Numerical heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop gradients are compared to available empirical correlations. Two new models for heat transfer coefficients and frictional pressure drop gradients are developed based on the numerical work.

Nomenclature

Bo=

Bond number [–]

C=

Chisholm number

Cp=

specific heat capacity, Jkg−1 K−1

dh=

hydraulic diameter, m

E=

specific sensible enthalpy, Jkg−1

f=

Fanning friction factor

F=

surface tension force, N

Fr=

Froude number

Fr*=

modified Froude number

g=

gravitational acceleration, ms−2

G=

mass flux, kgm−2 s−1

Ga=

Galileo number, [–]

h=

heat transfer coefficient, kWm−2 K−1

hlv=

latent heat of vaporization, Jkg−1

Ja=

Jacob number, [–]

k=

thermal conductivity, Wm−1 K−1

m=

mass source due to phase change, kgm−3 s−1

MAD=

mean average deviation, [–]

MRD=

mean relative deviation, [–]

Nu=

Nusselt number

Pr=

Prandtl number, [–]

Pred=

reduced pressure, [–]

q=

heat flux, wm−2

r=

coefficient of mass source, s−1

Re=

Reynolds number, [–]

Su=

Suratman number, [–]

T=

temperature, K

v=

velocity, ms−1

x=

vapor quality, [–]

Xtt=

Lockhart–Martinelli parameter

α=

volume fraction, [–]

ε=

void fraction of vapor, [–]

κ=

curvature of the interface, m−1

μ=

dynamic viscosity, Pas

ρ=

density, kgm−3

σ=

surface tension, Nm−1

Ф=

two-phase pressure drop multiplier

Subscripts=
a=

acceleration

annular=

annular flow regime

B=

free convection

cal=

results predicted by correlation

conv=

convective

F=

forced convection

h=

homogenous

l=

liquid phase

lo=

all refrigerant assumed to be liquid

ra=

Rouhani–Axelsson

sat=

saturation status

sim=

results obtained by simulation

strat=

stratified flow regime

tp=

two-phase

v=

vapor phase

vo=

all refrigerant assumed to be liquid

wall=

wall

Nomenclature

Bo=

Bond number [–]

C=

Chisholm number

Cp=

specific heat capacity, Jkg−1 K−1

dh=

hydraulic diameter, m

E=

specific sensible enthalpy, Jkg−1

f=

Fanning friction factor

F=

surface tension force, N

Fr=

Froude number

Fr*=

modified Froude number

g=

gravitational acceleration, ms−2

G=

mass flux, kgm−2 s−1

Ga=

Galileo number, [–]

h=

heat transfer coefficient, kWm−2 K−1

hlv=

latent heat of vaporization, Jkg−1

Ja=

Jacob number, [–]

k=

thermal conductivity, Wm−1 K−1

m=

mass source due to phase change, kgm−3 s−1

MAD=

mean average deviation, [–]

MRD=

mean relative deviation, [–]

Nu=

Nusselt number

Pr=

Prandtl number, [–]

Pred=

reduced pressure, [–]

q=

heat flux, wm−2

r=

coefficient of mass source, s−1

Re=

Reynolds number, [–]

Su=

Suratman number, [–]

T=

temperature, K

v=

velocity, ms−1

x=

vapor quality, [–]

Xtt=

Lockhart–Martinelli parameter

α=

volume fraction, [–]

ε=

void fraction of vapor, [–]

κ=

curvature of the interface, m−1

μ=

dynamic viscosity, Pas

ρ=

density, kgm−3

σ=

surface tension, Nm−1

Ф=

two-phase pressure drop multiplier

Subscripts=
a=

acceleration

annular=

annular flow regime

B=

free convection

cal=

results predicted by correlation

conv=

convective

F=

forced convection

h=

homogenous

l=

liquid phase

lo=

all refrigerant assumed to be liquid

ra=

Rouhani–Axelsson

sat=

saturation status

sim=

results obtained by simulation

strat=

stratified flow regime

tp=

two-phase

v=

vapor phase

vo=

all refrigerant assumed to be liquid

wall=

wall

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