Experimental comparison on condensation and evaporation outside double-side enhanced horizontal tubes

Abstract

Experimental investigations of the condensation and evaporation of R410A on the outside of two double-side enhanced heat transfer tubes were conducted, and the tube performance was compared with that of a smooth copper tube. The research object consisted of a smooth tube with a length of 2000 mm and an outer diameter of 25.4 mm and two double-side enhanced tubes of the same size. The evaporation experiments were run under the following conditions: the evaporation saturation temperature was 7°C, water inlet temperature was 8°C–18°C, and water flow rate was 0.6–1.6 m3/h. The condensation experiments were run under the following conditions: the saturation temperature was 35°C, water inlet temperature was 21°C–30°C, and water flow rate was 0.4–1.6 m3/h. During the data processing, the heat transfer coefficient of the water side was obtained using the Gnielinski-Wilson method, and that of the refrigerant side was obtained using the thermal resistance separation method. The effect of the surface structure on the heat transfer performance was analyzed, and a strengthening measure was proposed. The experimental results indicate that the evaporation heat transfer coefficients outside the smooth tube increased with the raise of the inlet water temperature, while the double-side enhanced tubes decreased; both the condensation heat transfer coefficients outside the smooth tube and the enhanced tubes increased with the increase of the water flow rate. Due to the different type of enhanced tube ribs, tube #3 surface structure is more conducive to the formation of vaporization core, which is about 30% higher than the outer heat transfer coefficient of tube #2. It is more in line with the requirements of strengthening horizontal single tube external pool boiling heat transfer. In the condensation experiment, the condensation heat transfer coefficients outside the smooth tube increased with the raise of the inlet water temperature, while the double enhanced tubes decreased; both the condensation heat transfer coefficients outside the smooth tube and the enhanced tubes increased with the increase of the water flow rate. With the analysis of the rib structure, the outer surface structure of tube #2 has stronger drainage capacity, and the external average condensation heat transfer coefficient is about 7% higher than that of tube #3, which is more in line with the requirements of condensing heat transfer outside the single tube.