Condensation of the low GWP refrigerant HFC152a inside a Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger

This paper presents the experimental heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop measured during refrigerant HFC152a condensation inside a commercial Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger (BPHE) and compares this data with similar measurements previously obtained for refrigerant HFC134a, HC290 and HFO1234ze(E) in order to assess the low GWP substitutes for HFC134a for large chiller application. The effects of saturation temperature, refrigerant mass flux and vapour super-heating are investigated. HFC152a exhibits heat transfer coefficients much higher than those of all the other refrigerants considered in the present comparison and frictional pressure drop similar to HC290 and slightly higher than HFC134a and HFO1234ze(E). Therefore, considering that HFC152a is the unique HFC refrigerant candidate with a GWP < 200, taking into account also its good thermodynamic properties, it seems to be a very promising low GWP refrigerant for large chiller application.