Condensation of the low GWP refrigerant HFO1234ze(E) inside a Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger

• Published in: International journal of refrigeration Vol. 38; pp. 250 - 259
• Main Authors: Longo, Giovanni A., Zilio, Claudio, Righetti, Giulia, Brown, J. Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; BPHE; Chute de pression; Coefficient de transfert de chaleur; Condensation; Devices using thermal energy; Echangeurs de chaleur à plaques brasées; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; GWP; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Heat transfer; Heat transfer coefficient; Potentiel de réchauffement global (GWP); Pressure drop; Refrigerants; Refrigerating engineering; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Super-heat; Surchauffe; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Super-heat; Potentiel de réchauffement global (GWP); GWP; BPHE; Echangeurs de chaleur à plaques brasées; Pressure drop; Coefficient de transfert de chaleur; Surchauffe; Chute de pression; Heat transfer coefficient; Condensation; Refrigeration installation; Superheating; Heat exchanger; Plate heat exchanger; Pressure; Refrigerant fluid; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 0140-7007; 1879-2081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.08.013

This paper presents heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops measured during condensation of the low GWP refrigerant HFO1234ze(E) inside a BPHE. The condensation temperature ranges between 24.8 and 40.2 °C, the refrigerant mass flux from 10.7 to 39.9 kg m−2 s−1 and the heat flux from 5.3 to 26 kW m−2. The heat transfer coefficients show weak sensitivity to saturation temperature and great sensitivity to refrigerant mass flux and vapour super-heating. At low refrigerant mass fluxes (<20 kg m−2 s−1) the heat transfer coefficients are independent of mass flux and condensation is gravity-dominated. For higher refrigerant mass fluxes (>20 kg m−2 s−1) the heat transfer coefficients depend on mass flux and forced convection condensation occurs. In the forced convection condensation region the heat transfer coefficients show a 32%–35% enhancement for a doubling of the refrigerant mass flux. The condensation heat transfer coefficients of super-heated vapour are from 8% to 11% higher than those of saturated vapour. HFO1234ze(E) exhibits lower (4%–6%) heat transfer coefficients and higher (10%) frictional pressure drops than those of HFC134a. •This paper investigates HFO1234ze(E) condensation inside a BPHE.•The heat transfer coefficients show great sensitivity to mass flux and vapour super-heating.•A transition point between gravity controlled and forced convection condensation has been found.•The frictional pressure drop shows a linear dependence on the kinetic energy.•HFO1234ze(E) shows heat transfer performance lower than HFC134a and higher than HFO1234yf.