Two-phase flow regimes in round, square and rectangular tubes during condensation of refrigerant R134a

Abstract

An experimental investigation of two-phase flow mechanisms during condensation of refrigerant R134a in six small diameter round (4.91 mm), square ( D h=4 mm, α=1), and rectangular (4×6 and 6×4 mm: D h=4.8 mm, α=0.67 and 1.5; 2×4 and 4×2 mm: D h=2.67 mm, α =0.5 and 2) was conducted. Unique experimental techniques and test sections were developed to enable the documentation of the flow mechanisms during phase change. For each tube under consideration, flow mechanisms were recorded over the entire range of qualities for five different refrigerant mass fluxes between 150 and 750 kg m −2 s −1. The flow mechanisms were categorized into four different flow regimes: intermittent flow, wavy flow, annular flow, and dispersed flow. In addition, the large amount of data enabled the delineation of several different flow patterns within each flow regime, which provides a clearer understanding of the different modes of two-phase flow. Transition lines between the respective flow patterns and regimes on these maps were established based on the experimental data. It was found that for similar hydraulic diameters, flow regime transitions are not very strongly dependent on tube shape or aspect ratio. These maps and the transition lines can be used to predict the particular flow pattern or regime that will be established for a given mass flux, quality and tube geometry.