Film Condensation of R-134a and R-236fa, Part 2: Experimental Results and Predictive Correlation for Bundle Condensation on Enhanced Tubes

Abstract

Local test results for two enhanced condensing tubes (next-generation versions of the Wieland Gewa and Wolverine Turbo enhanced condensing tubes) are obtained for refrigerants R-134a and R-236fa on the center row of a three row-wide tube bundle. The “bundle effect” on the heat transfer performance of the test section is observed and described. New predictive methods for falling film condensation on bundles are proposed, based on a modification of the previous vertical single-row method with condensate slinging. The modifications performed to the experimental setup to allow for bundle tests are described. For two types of enhanced tubes and two refrigerants, the local heat flux is correlated as a function of condensation temperature difference, the film Reynolds number, the tube spacing, and liquid slinging effect.