Two-phase flow condensation heat transfer characteristics of R-134a inside three-dimensional cylindrical micropillar enhanced tube

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation for evaluation of heat transfer coefficient, frictional pressure drops and flow regimes with their transitions during the condensation of R-134a inside a smooth, two microfins (MF1 and MF2) and a newly developed micropillar (MP) tubes. The experiments are carried out for a range of mass flux at an average saturation temperature of 35°C. Micropillar tube has produced the maximum heat transfer coefficient, while the microfin (MF1) tube resulted the highest frictional pressure gradient compared to other tubes. The experimental observations of microfin and micropillar tubes are plotted on the mass flux versus vapor quality flow map and Taitel and Duckler flow map to discuss the transitions within different flow patterns achieved. Visual inspection of the flow regimes with varying mass flux and vapor quality showed stratified-wavy, intermittent, and annular flow regimes. The occurrence of annular flow is found to be more in MF1 and MP tube. A performance evaluation factor (PEF) is defined to evaluate the thermal-hydraulic performance of the tubes. Using the same, it has been observed that the newly developed MP tube has a PEF value greater than unity which suggest augmentation of heat transfer coefficient at the expense of lesser pressure drop penalty.