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Modelling of heat transfer coefficients during condensation inside an enhanced inclined tube

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Abstract

In this study, experiments were conducted for the flow of R-134a condensing in an enhanced inclined tube at a saturation condensing temperature of 40 °C. The enhanced tube had a helix angle of 14° with a mean internal diameter of 8.71 mm. The mass velocities were varied from 200 to 600 kg m−2 s−1, while the inclination angles were varied from − 90° to + 90°. It was found that the inclination angle had a considerable effect on the flow patterns and the thermal performance. It was also found that the maximum heat transfer coefficients were obtained at tube inclinations of between − 15° and − 5° (downward flows). By using the experimental data and artificial neural networks (ANN), a model was proposed to predict the heat transfer coefficients during condensation inside the enhanced inclined tube. By using four statistical criteria, the performance of the proposed model was examined against experimental data, and it was found that ANN was a useful tool for the prediction of the heat transfer coefficients based on the effective parameters of vapour quality, mass velocity and inclination angle.

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(Adapted from Thome [77])

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Abbreviations

\(A_{\text{cs}}\) :

Test section cross-sectional area (m2)

\(A_{\text{i}}\) :

Internal surface area (m2)

e :

Fin height (m)

G :

Mass velocity (kg m−2 s−1)

h :

Heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K−1)

L t :

Heat transfer length of test section (m)

\(Q^{.}\) :

Heat transfer rate (W)

T :

Temperature (K)

T sat :

Saturation temperature (K)

\(\bar{T}_{\text{w,i}}\) :

Average wall inner temperature (K)

x :

Vapour mass fraction (−)

\(\beta\) :

Inclination angle (°)

a:

Actual

pred:

Predicted

r, in:

Inlet refrigerant temperature

r, out:

Outlet refrigerant temperature

w, test:

Water side of the test section

EF:

Enhancement factor

MAE:

Mean absolute error

MP:

Membership function

MRE:

Mean relative error

RMSE:

Root-mean-square error

MSE:

Mean squared error

MAPE:

Mean absolute percentage error

R :

Correlation coefficient

R 2 :

Coefficient of determination

RMSE:

Root-mean-square error

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Acknowledgements

The funding obtained from Tshwane University of Technology, NRF, TESP, Stellenbosch University/the University of Pretoria, SANERI/SANEDI, CSIR, TUT, EEDSM Hub and NAC is acknowledged and duly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Industrial Design, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X860, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    D. R. E. Ewim & Z. Huan

  2. Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa

    A. O. Adelaja & J. P. Meyer

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos State, 101017, Nigeria

    A. O. Adelaja

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

    E. J. Onyiriuka

  5. Unilag-LG Air Conditioning Academy, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos State, 101017, Nigeria

    A. O. Adelaja

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  1. D. R. E. Ewim
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  2. A. O. Adelaja
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  3. E. J. Onyiriuka
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  4. J. P. Meyer
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  5. Z. Huan
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Correspondence to D. R. E. Ewim, A. O. Adelaja or J. P. Meyer.

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Ewim, D.R.E., Adelaja, A.O., Onyiriuka, E.J. et al. Modelling of heat transfer coefficients during condensation inside an enhanced inclined tube. J Therm Anal Calorim 146, 103–115 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-09930-2

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