Year: 2002
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This paper presents experimental results from a prototype of a microchannel heat exchanger used in a residential air-conditioning system as an air-cooled condenser.The main objectives were to analyze effects of the microchannel condenser on system performance.The commercially available system that utilizes a condenser with a round tube and plate fins was experimentally evaluated first, then the original condenser was replaced with a microchannel heat exchanger of almost identical external volume, face area, and fin pitch.The performance of the systems and condensers were compared.Condenser performance was quantified in terms of the overall heat-transfer coefficient values for different experimental conditions.The cooling capacity of the system and the coefficient of performance were compared under the same conditions (air-flow rates, temperatures, and humidities).The cooling capacity as well as the coefficient of performance for the system with a microchannel condenser was improved under each of the conditions.The charge of system using microchannel condenser was 9% less than that of the system using round-tube condenser.The airside velocity and pressure difference distributions of both condensers are also shown.
Authors: C. Y. Park, Pega Hrnjak
Institution: Purdue University West Lafayette
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1582498237