Investigating performance of microchannel evaporators for automobile air conditioning with different port structures

Guoliang Zhou,Longbing Wu,Qia Cheng,Lin Su

doi:10.1063/1.4986400

Guoliang Zhou, Longbing Wu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4986400

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Abstract

Microchannel evaporator has been widely applied in automobile air conditioning, while it faces the problem of refrigerant maldistribution which deteriorates the thermal performance of evaporator. In this study, the performances of microchannel evaporators with different port structures are experimentally investigated for purpose of reducing evaporator pressure drop. Four evaporator samples with different port number and hydraulic diameter are made for this study. The performances of the evaporator samples are tested on a psychometric calorimeter test bench with the refrigerant R-134A at a real automobile air conditioning. The results on the variations of the evaporator pressure drop and evaporator surface temperature distribution are presented and analyzed. By studying the performance of an evaporator, seeking proper port structure is an approach to reduce refrigerant pressure drop as well as improve refrigerant distribution.

Highlights

This paper was selected as FeaturedGuoliang Zhou,a Lin Su, Qia Cheng, and Longbing Wu School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and technology, 200093 Shanghai, China (Received 5 June 2017; accepted 21 July 2017; published online 29 August 2017)
In automobile, it is fitted with air conditioning system (AC) for purposes of thermal comfort and safety.[1]
Tuo and Hrnjak[8] presented an experimental and numerical investigation of the flow maldistribution caused by the pressure drop in headers and its impact on the performance of a microchannel evaporator with horizontal and vertically oriented tubes, parametric analysis revealed that maldistribution impact caused by header pressure drop was significantly reduced by enlarging the outlet header size, increasing heat exchanger aspect ratio, or reducing the microchannel size while other parameters were kept constant

Summary

This paper was selected as Featured

Guoliang Zhou,a Lin Su, Qia Cheng, and Longbing Wu School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and technology, 200093 Shanghai, China (Received 5 June 2017; accepted 21 July 2017; published online 29 August 2017)

INTRODUCTION

Microchannel evaporator

Sample IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

CONCLUSIONS