Standard Rating Charts for Low Global Warming Potential Refrigerants Flowing Through Adiabatic Helical Capillary Tube

Abstract

The present research work is undertaken to develop ASHRAE like standard rating charts for currently used refrigerants R-134a and R-410A and their potential low global warming potential (GWP) substitutes R-1234yf and R-32, respectively. A self-adjustable mass prediction algorithm has been developed using an averaging technique. Based on this, a matlab code dynamically linked to refprop v. 9.0 software has been developed that solves governing equations of mass, momentum, and energy. Two-phase flow inside the capillary tube is assumed homogeneous and metastability is ignored in the proposed model. The proposed numerical models are in good agreement with the available experimental data with overall percentage mean deviation is less than 6%. Coil diameter plays an important role in adjusting the mass flow rate in the helical capillary tube. Coiling of capillary tube causes an increase in friction pressure drop and a reduction in refrigerant mass flow rate. It has been found that the mass flow rate reduces by about 5% as coil diameter is reduced from 120 to 20 mm.