University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Experimentally validated models of refrigerant distribution in microchannel heat exchangers used to evaluate charge reduction of various working fluids

Padilla, Yadira

Content Files
Padilla_Fuentes_Yadira.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/34318

Description

Title
Experimentally validated models of refrigerant distribution in microchannel heat exchangers used to evaluate charge reduction of various working fluids
Author(s)
Padilla, Yadira
Issue Date
2012-09-18T21:11:07Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Hrnjak, Predrag S.
Department of Study
Mechanical Sci & Engineering
Discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2012-09-18T21:11:07Z
Keyword(s)
  • microchannel
  • refrigerant charge
  • modeling heat exchangers
Abstract
This thesis presents experimentally validated simulation models developed to obtain accurate prediction of microchannel heat exchanger performance and charge. Effects of using various correlations are presented and discussed with focus on microchannel condensers and evaporators. Experiments with different refrigerants including R290, R717, R1234yf, and R134a are used to validate the models. The experimentally validated models are used to compare the charge of various refrigerants. The procedure for charge reduction analysis described in the thesis is the reduction of the internal (refrigerant) volume of the condenser or evaporator until a pressure drop is obtained that results in a specified percent decrease in COP from the same refrigeration cycle with no pressure drop. Furthermore, the effect of mass flux on charge is studied and discussed. Lastly, prediction of charge in headers is explored and correlations for predicting charge in headers of microchannel condensers are presented.
Graduation Semester
2012-08
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34318
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2012 Yadira Padilla

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