Visualization and measurement of reverse flow in an actual channel of a microchannel evaporator

Huize Li; Pega Hrnjak

doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.085

Visualization and measurement of reverse flow in an actual channel of a microchannel evaporator

Huize Li, Pega Hrnjak

Mechanical Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Two leading edge channels of a microchannel evaporator are made transparent to visualize the flow regimes inside. The evaporator is operated in an automotive air conditioning system under both two-phase refrigerant feeding and liquid refrigerant feeding modes. The flow regimes in the microchannels are different in these two operation modes. In two-phase feeding mode: churn, bubbly/slug, and annular flows occur alternatively, but the period of each flow regime is not constant. Flow reversal is only witnessed occasionally in bubbly/slug flow regime. In liquid feeding mode, only liquid and bubbly/slug flows are observed. Reverse flow occurs periodically. The duration of flow reversal is shorter in two-phase feeding mode than in liquid feeding mode. Most likely it is due to higher upstream resistance caused by two-phase refrigerant feeding.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2346-2354
Number of pages	9
Journal	International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Volume	108
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.085
State	Published - 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanical Engineering
Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

Online availability

10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.085

Library availability

Discover UIUC Full Text

Cite this

@article{5bbc90b12431481a9b69e2371b5b0dcf,

title = "Visualization and measurement of reverse flow in an actual channel of a microchannel evaporator",

abstract = "Two leading edge channels of a microchannel evaporator are made transparent to visualize the flow regimes inside. The evaporator is operated in an automotive air conditioning system under both two-phase refrigerant feeding and liquid refrigerant feeding modes. The flow regimes in the microchannels are different in these two operation modes. In two-phase feeding mode: churn, bubbly/slug, and annular flows occur alternatively, but the period of each flow regime is not constant. Flow reversal is only witnessed occasionally in bubbly/slug flow regime. In liquid feeding mode, only liquid and bubbly/slug flows are observed. Reverse flow occurs periodically. The duration of flow reversal is shorter in two-phase feeding mode than in liquid feeding mode. Most likely it is due to higher upstream resistance caused by two-phase refrigerant feeding.",

author = "Huize Li and Pega Hrnjak",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2017",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.085",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "108",

pages = "2346--2354",

journal = "International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer",

issn = "0017-9310",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Visualization and measurement of reverse flow in an actual channel of a microchannel evaporator

AU - Li, Huize

AU - Hrnjak, Pega

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Two leading edge channels of a microchannel evaporator are made transparent to visualize the flow regimes inside. The evaporator is operated in an automotive air conditioning system under both two-phase refrigerant feeding and liquid refrigerant feeding modes. The flow regimes in the microchannels are different in these two operation modes. In two-phase feeding mode: churn, bubbly/slug, and annular flows occur alternatively, but the period of each flow regime is not constant. Flow reversal is only witnessed occasionally in bubbly/slug flow regime. In liquid feeding mode, only liquid and bubbly/slug flows are observed. Reverse flow occurs periodically. The duration of flow reversal is shorter in two-phase feeding mode than in liquid feeding mode. Most likely it is due to higher upstream resistance caused by two-phase refrigerant feeding.

AB - Two leading edge channels of a microchannel evaporator are made transparent to visualize the flow regimes inside. The evaporator is operated in an automotive air conditioning system under both two-phase refrigerant feeding and liquid refrigerant feeding modes. The flow regimes in the microchannels are different in these two operation modes. In two-phase feeding mode: churn, bubbly/slug, and annular flows occur alternatively, but the period of each flow regime is not constant. Flow reversal is only witnessed occasionally in bubbly/slug flow regime. In liquid feeding mode, only liquid and bubbly/slug flows are observed. Reverse flow occurs periodically. The duration of flow reversal is shorter in two-phase feeding mode than in liquid feeding mode. Most likely it is due to higher upstream resistance caused by two-phase refrigerant feeding.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85012279044&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85012279044&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.085

DO - 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.085

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85012279044

SN - 0017-9310

VL - 108

SP - 2346

EP - 2354

JO - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

JF - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

ER -

Visualization and measurement of reverse flow in an actual channel of a microchannel evaporator

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Online availability

Library availability

Related links

Fingerprint

Cite this