Single phase pressure drop in round cylindrical headers of parallel flow MCHXs

Key

2542

Conference Year

2014

Authors

Tao Ren, Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaFollow
Amir Chavoshi, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 1206 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USAFollow
Guoliang Ding, Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaFollow
Predrag S. HrnjakFollow

Keywords

Single phase, Pressure drop, Header, Correlation

Abstract

This paper presents the investigation of the pressure drop in headers and development of correlation for pressure loss coefficient for single phase flow through round cylindrical headers of parallel MCHXs. The working fluid was compressed air flowing through header with 1 - 20 m/s based on smallest cross section while the velocity through micro-channels was in the range 6 - 30 m/s. The experimental results indicate that the pressure loss coefficient of inlet header is a linear function of the ratio of velocities through micro-channel tube and header, except for the first two micro-channel tubes; the pressure loss coefficient of outlet header is a quadratic function of the ratio of velocities through micro-channel tube and header, and decreases as the velocities through upstream micro-channel tubes increase. Correlations for predicting pressure drop of inlet header and outlet header are developed and agreement for 98% of experimental data is within a ±15 Pa.