Visualization and measurement of refrigerant flow in compression-type refrigerator by neutron radiography

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 424; no. 1; pp. 98 - 103
• Main Authors: Asano, H, Takenaka, N, Fujii, T, Shibata, Y, Ebisu, T, Matsubayashi, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 11.03.1999
• Subjects: Capillary flow; Capillary tube; Capillary tubes; Charge coupled devices; Compression-type refrigerator; Distributor; Flashing; Flow measurement; Flow visualization; Gas–liquid two-phase flow; Neutron radiography; Refrigerants; Refrigerators; Two phase flow; Video cameras; Void fraction; Neutron radiography; Gas–liquid two-phase flow; 47.60; Distributor; Compression-type refrigerator; Void fraction; Flashing; Capillary tube; 87.59.B
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9002(98)01278-9

The refrigerant two-phase flows in a capillary tube and a distributor used in a compression-type refrigerator were visualized by real-time neutron radiography. The thermal neutron radiography system of JRR-3M at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute was used. In the visualization experiments of the two-phase flow in the capillary tube of 2 mm I.D., a cooled CCD camera was used, and the axial one-dimensional distributions of void fraction were measured. For the distributor, a high sensitivity video camera with a silicone intensified target tube was used. From the visualized images, the refrigerant behaviors in the distributor were clearly shown, and the liquid fraction in each tube was measured. As a result, it was shown that the refrigerant behaviors in the distributor effected the distributing performance of the refrigerant flow.