Comparison of fin-and-tube interlaced and face split evaporators with flow maldistribution and compensation

Flow maldistribution in fin-and tube evaporators for residential air-conditioning is investigated by numerical simulation. In particular, the interlaced and the face split evaporator are compared in flow maldistribution conditions. The considered sources of maldistribution are the liquid/vapor distribution and the airflow distribution. Furthermore, compensation of flow maldistribution by control of individual channel superheat is studied for each evaporator type. It is shown that the interlaced evaporator is better at flow maldistribution than the face split evaporator. However, if individual channel superheats are controlled, the face split evaporator achieves the best performance, i.e. an increase of 7% in overall UA-value and 1.6–2.4% in COP compared to the interlaced evaporator without compensation.

► Compensation of flow maldistribution in finned tube evaporators is investigated.
► Method of compensation is control of individual channel superheat.
► Compensation potential is evaluated on standard tube circuitries.
► The interlaced circuitry achieves the best performance without compensation.
► The face split circuitry achieves the best performance with compensation.