Heat transfer and pressure drop of natural refrigerants in minichannels (low charge equipment)

The paper presents a comprehensive overview of the most recent research works on heat transfer (and pressure drop) with natural refrigerants in minichannels, aimed at proper design of heat transfer equipment. About boiling heat transfer, experimental HT results are mainly fitted by empirical correlations referring to the common mechanisms used in more conventional geometries (nucleate and convective boiling); evaporation heat transfer through thin liquid film around vapor plugs is at times considered. About shear dominated condensation heat transfer, suggested design tools again mostly refer to the extension of the semi-empirical correlations earlier established for conventional geometries. For CO2, heat transfer at supercritical conditions, such as in a gas cooler, is also treated. Finally the concept of the Penalty Factor is applied to shear condensation in minichannels to establish the heat transfer performance of the different working fluids, the superior effectiveness of minitubes over macrotubes, and the optimization of minichannel condensers.

► This is an overview of the most recent research works on heat transfer with natural refrigerants in minichannels. ► It covers boiling and condensation heat transfer, two-phase frictional pressure drop, heat transfer of supercritical CO2. ► The concept of the Penalty Factor is applied to shear condensation in minichannels. ► The PF allows to establish the heat transfer performance of the different working fluids. ► The PF shows the superior effectiveness of minitubes over macrotubes, and allows optimization of minichannel condensers.