Numerical model of a parallel flow minichannel evaporator with new flow boiling heat transfer correlation

• Distributed parameter model for PFMC evaporator was established and experimentally validated.
• A new correlation for flow boiling heat transfer in mini-channels was proposed.
• The feasibilities of four flow boiling heat transfer correlations in DP model were investigated.
• DP model with the new correlation demonstrated the highest precision.

In this paper, a distributed parameter (DP) numerical model with the new proposed flow boiling heat transfer correlation was established for parallel flow minichannel (PFMC) evaporator. DP model validation was made by comparing the measured values obtained on experimental studies, which were conducted under refrigerant mass flow rate range of 34.6–245.6 kg h−1 and evaporation pressure of 200–500 kPa. The effects of four different flow boiling heat transfer correlations on DP model performance were investigated. Results showed that the new correlation predicted 99% of experimental data in ± 30% error bands. Moreover, the DP model with the new correlation yielded the mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.5%, 9.1%, 18.8%, 14.2% and 19.8% in prediction of cooling capacity, outlet air temperature, refrigerant superheat, air side and refrigerant side pressure drop, respectively. The presented DP model can be implemented to evaluate the performance of PFMC evaporator, and therefore can save efforts on component and system design and optimization.