Performance Analysis For Plate Heat Exchanger With Various Chevron Angles Using R134a As A Refrigerant

Selvam, Amala Justus ; Velu;

Analysis to measure the condensation heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop in brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs) were conducted with the refrigerants R134a. Brazed plate heat
exchangers with different chevron angles of 45o, 35o, and 20o were used. Changing the mass flux, the condensation temperature, and the vapour quality of the refrigerant, the condensation heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drops were measured. Both the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop increased proportionally with the mass flux and the vapour quality and inversely with the condensation temperature and the chevron angle. Correlations of the Nusselt number and the friction factor with the geometric parameters are suggested for the tested BPHEs.