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• Novel mathematical model to predict the heat transfer rate of skin condensers. • Experimental validation with eigth hot-wall condenser designs. • Adhesive tape has the strongest impact on the heat exchanger performance. This paper comes out with an investigation of the thermal performance of skin-type hot-wall condensers for household refrigeration applications. Eight different hot-wall condensers were manufactured and installed in identical refrigerators. The condenser samples were constructed by varying the following design parameters: (i) adhesive tape (aluminum or polyethylene), (ii) tube O.D. (4.00 or 4.76 mm), (iii) total length (10 or 11.5 m) and (iv) condenser positioning. The refrigerators were placed inside a climate-controlled chamber and tested in steady-state conditions. A mathematical model that takes into account the heat transfer not only to the surroundings but also to the refrigerated compartments was also put forward. The model predictions were compared to the experimental data when deviations within the ±10% bounds were achieved. It was found that the adhesive tape thermal conductivity and the tube-outer sheet contact area have the strongest impact on the condenser performance. It was also found that the polyethylene tape increases the condensing pressure, due to its low thermal conductivity and thus to the smaller useful heat transfer area. It was thus concluded that the refrigerator foaming process must be carried out with an extreme care to avoid any negative impact on the tube-outer sheet contact resistance. Finally, it was noted that the heat transfer to the refrigerated compartments is directly affected by the condenser positioning and the thermal insulation thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of a good thermal performance of the multi-louvered fin arrays, it is intended to introduce the special fin structure into the design of condensers for high power electricity converter cooling on the CRH (China Railway High-speed) trains in order to improve the security of normal running for the high-speed trains. The geometrical size of the multi-louvered fin arrays needed for the high power condensers is relatively larger than that of the conventional louvered fin arrays and the flow state within the large size multi-louvered fin arrays is different as well, with the Reynolds numbers based on the louver pitch over the range of 2850–11,000 in the present study. Flow and heat transfer characteristics of the large size multi-louvered fin arrays with various structural parameters are numerically simulated using Large Eddy Simulation (LES). More reasonable parameters correlated with the thermal-hydraulic performance of the large size multi-louvered fin arrays are identified compared to the conventional characteristic parameters employed in the published work. Finally, improved correlations for the Fanning friction f factor and the Colburn- j factor representing the flow and heat transfer characteristics, respectively, are put forward in terms of the identified parameters with special interval bounds for the condenser design of high power electronic cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the impact of non-condensable gas (NCG) on heat transfer in a steam turbine condenser (STC) and modelling of the steam ejector pump system (SEPS) by controlling the gas extraction rate through extraction tubes. The ideal connection points for the NCG extraction from the STC are identified by analysing the impact of the NCG on the heat transfer and measuring the existing system at a thermal power plant in Slovenia. A simulation model is designed using the Matlab software and Simulink, Neural Net Work, Fuzzy Logic and Curve Fitting Toolboxes, to control gas extraction rate through extraction tubes of the gas pumped from the STC, thus optimising the operation of the steam ejector pump system (SEPS). The gas extraction rate from the STC is controlled in the extraction tubes by pumping only the NCG to the maximum extent. The SEPS is optimised by selecting a Laval nozzle of appropriate size to reduce the steam for the operation of the SEPS, whereby the amount of the extracted NCG is maintained. As the SEPS motive steam is produced in a boiler, the consumption of coal for the production of the SEPS motive steam is reduced as well as the greenhouse gas environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat transfer performance variations of condensers that are caused by non-uniform distributions of air flows are investigated using a numerical simulation method. A heat exchanger designed for the outdoor unit of a heat pump system is selected and represented using a numerical model. A non-uniform profile of the air velocity is constructed through measuring the air velocity at various locations on the outdoor unit. Numerical analyses are conducted for various refrigerant circuits and air flow conditions. The results demonstrate that the heat transfer capacity is reduced depending on the air flow rate and the refrigerant circuit configuration. It is also demonstrated that the capacity reduction rate is increased as the average air velocity decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper assesses the thermo-hydraulic design approach introduced in a previous publication (Hermes, 2012) for condensers and evaporators aimed at minimum entropy generation. An algebraic model which expresses the dimensionless rate of entropy generation as a function of the number of transfer units, the fluid properties, the thermal-hydraulic characteristics, and the operating conditions is derived. Case studies are carried out with different heat exchanger configurations for small-capacity refrigeration applications. The theoretical analysis led to the conclusion that a high effectiveness heat exchanger does not necessarily provide the best thermal-hydraulic design for condenser and evaporator coils, when the rates of entropy generation due to heat transfer and fluid friction are of the same order of magnitude. The analysis also indicated that a high aspect ratio heat exchanger produces a lower amount of entropy than a low aspect ratio one. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports on the experimental research conducted to study the condensation of ammonia on smooth and integral-fin (32fpi) titanium tubes of 19.05mm outer diameter. Experiments were carried out at saturation temperatures of 30, 35, 40 and 45°C and wall subcoolings from 1 to 8°C. The results show that the condensation coefficients on the smooth tubes are well predicted by the Nusselt theory with an average error of +0.66% and within a deviation between −6.6% and +8.3%. The enhancement factors provided by the integral-fin tubes range from 0.77 to 1.22. The low enhancement factors are due to the high condensate retention between fins, which brings about flooded fractions of the tube perimeter from 62.9% to 73.2%, and the low thermal conductivity of titanium. The Briggs and Rose [1994. Effect of fin efficiency on a model for condensation heat transfer on a horizontal, integral-fin tube. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 37, 457–463.] model, which accounts for the conduction in the fins, predicts the experimental data with a mean overestimation of 20%. The analysis of the partial thermal resistances in the overall heat transfer process points out the convenience of enhancing the outside ammonia condensation when high water velocities are considered inside the tubes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Experiments were carried out to investigate the pressure drop and heat transfer behaviors of a microchannel condenser. The effects of gravity on the condensation of steam in the microchannels were investigated for both horizontal and vertical cases. For the experimental results, the pressure drop of vertical microchannels in the condenser is lower than for horizontal microchannels. In the case of the horizontal microchannel, as the mass flow rate of steam increases from 0.01 g·s−1 to 0.06 g·s−1, the pressure drop increases from 1.5 kPa to 50 kPa, respectively. While the mass flow rate of steam in the vertical microchannel case increases from 0.01 g·s−1 to 0.06 g·s−1, the pressure drop increases from 2.0 kPa to 44 kPa, respectively. This clearly indicates that the gravitational acceleration affects the pressure drop. The pressure drop of the vertical microchannel is lower than that obtained from the horizontal microchannel. In addition, the capacity of the condenser is the same in both cases. This leads to the performance index obtained from the vertical microchannel condenser being higher than that obtained from the horizontal microchannel condenser. These results are important contributions to the research on the condensation of steam in microchannels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Path number in heat exchanger was conventionally determined at rated load. • Number of refrigerant paths of condenser is determined with part load condition. • Path number optimized with part load leads large increase in heat transfer rate. • Optimal number of path was determined by weighting with load conditions. • The proposed method shows promising energy performance potential. Heat exchangers for heat pump condensers and evaporators are usually designed considering rated load conditions. Residential heat pumps and residential air conditioners operate considerably longer at part load conditions than at rated load conditions. This study investigated the difference between a design considering the part load condition and a design considering the rated load condition in heat exchanger path design. The optimal number of paths for each load condition was selected considering the thermal resistance ratio. Results show that the heat transfer rates of a condenser with the optimal number of paths based on thermal resistance under 84%, 51%, and 33% load conditions were 18.29%, 27.58%, and 42.58% greater than the heat transfer rate of a condenser with the number of paths optimized under rated load conditions, respectively. Considering all load conditions, the optimal number of paths with the maximum average heat transfer rate was derived using the weighting factor of the system performance evaluation criteria. The results demonstrated that the optimal number of paths changed when a part load condition was considered in the heat exchanger design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A distributed model has been developed for multi-pass parallel flow condensers with condensate-vapor separation. • Mal-distribution of refrigerant flow rates in tubes of a flow pass is determined by the genetic algorithm. • Accurate locations of onset and completion of condensation are determined. • Predictions of heat transfer and pressure drop agree with experimental data within ±20%. Liquid-vapor separation is an advanced technology recently developed enabling significant further heat transfer enhancement for condensers. This paper reports a distributed parameter model, using the ε - NTU method, to numerically simulate heat transfer performance of multi-pass parallel flow condensers with liquid-vapor separation (referred to as MPFCs-LS). For achieving higher accurate results and lower computational time, a segment self-subdivision method is used to locate the positions of onset and completion of condensation. Furthermore genetic algorithm is adopted to determine the refrigerant flow rates through tubes in a flow pass. Relevant empirical correlations are selected for heat transfer and frictional pressure drop in different flow regimes during condensation in microfin tubes. The predictions of the model agree well with the experimental data within ±20%. The model and numerical methods developed in this work for MPFCs-LS are of important value in design and performance optimization of these new advanced condensers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]