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Simulation of an Evaporator with Nonuniform One-Dimensional Air Distribution
Published
Author(s)
Piotr A. Domanski
Abstract
This paper presents a simulation model of a plate-fin, air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger used as an evaporator in residential air conditioning. The model can account for nonuniform air-distribution between coil tubes and simulates refrigerant distribution for coil circuits and individual tubes. The model is based on a tube-by-tube approach. Performance of each tube is analyzed separately by considering the cross-flow heat transfer with the external air-stream and the appropriate heat and mass transfer relationships. Each tube is associates with individual refrigerant parameters and mass flow rate, and air mass flow rate, inlet temperature, and humidity. A comparison of the model's predictions and laboratory test data is provided. Simulation results indicate that air maldistribution may induce maldistribution of a refrigerant, which contributes to the performance degradation of the evaporator.