Two-phase flow distribution inside evaporator headers has been a challenging problem for a long time and having a robust predictive tool could substantially alleviate the costs associated with experimentation with different concepts and configurations. The use of a two-phase CFD model to predict flow distribution inside the header and at the discharge ports is demonstrated in this paper. The numerical domain is comprised of an inlet pipe and a distributor tube representing the header with a series of discharge ports. The flow distribution was initially verified using an air–water experiment, where the two-phase modeling approach, mesh requirements, and discretization schemes were defined. Next, the model was used to predict distribution of R134a in a typical heat exchanger distributor. The flow distribution across the discharge ports was provided to a discretized correlation-based heat exchanger model to predict the temperature and quality distribution along the length of the heat exchanger. The resultant temperature distribution is validated against IR imaging results for various operating conditions and header orientations.
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September 2014
Research-Article
Numerical Modeling of Two-Phase Flow Distribution Inside Evaporator Headers
Miad Yazdani,
United Technologies Research Center,
Miad Yazdani
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
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Abbas A. Alahyari,
United Technologies Research Center,
Abbas A. Alahyari
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
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Hailing Wu,
United Technologies Research Center,
Hailing Wu
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
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Thomas D. Radcliff
United Technologies Research Center,
Thomas D. Radcliff
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
Search for other works by this author on:
Miad Yazdani
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
Abbas A. Alahyari
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
Hailing Wu
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
Thomas D. Radcliff
Thermal & Fluid Sciences Department
,United Technologies Research Center,
East Hartford, CT 06108
Manuscript received July 23, 2013; final manuscript received December 11, 2013; published online February 26, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Jovica R. Riznic.
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. Sep 2014, 6(3): 031006 (7 pages)
Published Online: February 26, 2014
Article history
Received:
July 23, 2013
Revision Received:
December 11, 2013
Citation
Yazdani, M., Alahyari, A. A., Wu, H., and Radcliff, T. D. (February 26, 2014). "Numerical Modeling of Two-Phase Flow Distribution Inside Evaporator Headers." ASME. J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. September 2014; 6(3): 031006. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026309
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Design Optimization of a Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger based on Variable Baffle Cuts and Sizing
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl
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