A State-of-the-Art Review on Two-Phase Flow-Induced Noise in Expansion Devices

Abstract

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the literature concerning flow-induced noise in expansion devices. The topics covered are theoretical natural frequency models of bubbles with spherical and cylindrical shapes and flow-induced noise in capillary tubes, such as orifice, thermal and electric expansion valve. Several parametric conditions affect the flow-induced noise in capillary tubes, such as outlet capillary geometry, capillary inner diameter and length, flow orientation, outlet vapor quality, mass velocity, pressure drop, in/outlet flow pattern, evaporation temperature, and refrigeration cycle operational conditions. Despite the broad use of orifice, there is a lack of knowledge in the literature of flow-induced noise in these devices. The flow-induced noise seems primarily a function of mass velocity, vapor quality, and flow pattern. It seems that outlet intermittent flow patterns lead to significant noise in capillary tubes and expansion valves. In general, for the noise evaluated outside the expansion device, electric expansion valves exhibited higher sound pressure levels than capillary tubes. Furthermore, the present literature review indicates that efforts should be made to perform tests for a wide range of conditions evaluating the noise within and outside the expansion device, device wall acceleration and flow topology for current and new refrigerants, simultaneously.