Condensation and evaporation heat transfer characteristics of HFC-134a in a horizontal smooth and a micro-finned tube

Abstract

Experimental condensation and evaporation heat transfer coefficients were measured in a horizontal smooth tube and a horizontal micro-finned tube with HFC-134a. The test sections are straight, horizontal tubes with have a 9.52mm outside diameter and about 5000mm long. The micro-finned tube had 60 fins with a height of 0.12mm and a spiral angle of 25.deg.. The condensation test section was a double-pipe type with counter flow configuration. The evaporation test section employed an electic heating method. Enhancement factors which is defined as a ratio of the heat transfer coefficient for micro-finned tube to that for smooth tube, varied from 1.3 to 1.6(mass flux:110~190kg/ms) for condensation and 1.2 to 1.5 (mass flux:70~160kg/ms) for evaporation. The experimental data of condensation and evaporation heat transfer coefficients were compared to several empirical correlations. Based on these comparisons, modified correlations of the condensation and evaporation heat transfer coefficient for both smooth and micro-finned tubes were proposed.