A New Numerical Approach for Predicting the Two-Phase Flow of Refrigerants during Evaporation and Condensation

Abstract

This article reports on four finite-volume–based numerical methods developed for predicting the one-dimensional two-phase flow of pure refrigerants in evaporators and condensers during change-of-phase processes. The methods differ in the physical assumptions considered at the interface separating the liquid and vapor phases and in the equation used to predict the variation of the refrigerant flow quality during change of phase. In all methods, numerical predictions are obtained via a locally iterative marching-type solution algorithm. Therefore, the models permit the prediction of the size of the pipe needed to achieve full evaporation/condensation of the saturated refrigerant. The effectiveness and robustness of the numerical procedures in predicting the flow and heat transfer characteristics are assessed by comparing results with published experimental data. Good agreement is obtained. The new approach is used to perform a parametric study analyzing the effect of refrigerant type, pipe diameter, and mass flow rate on the flow and heat transfer characteristics in evaporators.

Acknowledgments

The financial support provided by the University Research Board (URB) of the American University of Beirut is gratefully acknowledged.