Experimental study of refrigerant (R-134a) condensation heat transfer and retention behavior on paraffin-coated vertical plates and fin structures

Hong Qing Jin, Sophie Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Condensation of refrigerant R-134a is experimentally investigated on a paraffin-coated copper surface and compared to condensation on a plain copper surface. Heat transfer and visualization experiments are conducted for vertical-plate samples and for two different fin structures at various degrees of subcooling. A one-dimensional heat conduction model is used to interpret the condensation heat transfer measurements, while liquid retention behavior is quantified with the aid of image processing. The experimental results on vertical plates show that the heat transfer is enhanced on the coated surface with a maximum increase of 27% in the condensing heat transfer coefficient. On fin structures, the liquid retention was reduced by up to 28% on a coated surface. The heat transfer and retention behavior vary with surface material, degree of subcooling, and fin geometry.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number081601
JournalJournal of Heat Transfer
Volume142
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Condensation
  • Condensation heat transfer
  • Fin structure
  • Paraffin coating
  • Retention behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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