Investigation of flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop of R134a in a rectangular channel with wavy fin

Abstract

The saturated flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop studies of R134a were experimentally investigated in a rectangular channel with wavy fin. Experiments were performed at mass flux range 30–50 kg m−2 s−1, heat flux range 11–18 kW m−2 and quality 0.26–0.8. The experimental data were obtained in a brazed test section. In preliminary step, single phase experiments were conducted to find out the j and f data of the wavy fin. In second step, two-phase flow boiling experiments were conducted to estimate the heat transfer and frictional coefficient based on experimental data. The trends of heat transfer and pressure drop with respect to mass flux, heat flux and quality were studied. Two-phase local boiling heat transfer coefficient is correlated in terms of Reynolds number factor F, and Martinelli parameter X. Pressure drop is correlated in terms of two-phase frictional multiplier, and Martinelli parameter, X.