Experimental enhancement the evaporator performance using pulsated refrigerant flow

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Heat Transfer
• HVAC Systems

Background:

• Air conditioning systems rely on efficient heat exchange in evaporators.
• Improving evaporator performance directly impacts overall system efficiency and cooling capacity.
• Current methods for enhancing heat transfer may involve complex or costly modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally evaluate the impact of pulsating refrigerant flow on evaporator heat transfer rates.
• To determine the effect of pulsating flow on the coefficient of performance (COP) of an air conditioning system.
• To assess the practicality and cost-effectiveness of implementing pulsating flow technology.

Main Methods:

• Generating refrigerant pulsations in an evaporator coil using an electrical pulse control circuit.
• Testing frequencies of 6, 9, and 12 Hz under varying ambient temperatures (24°C, 26°C, 28°C).
• Monitoring heat transfer rates, COP, operating time, and compressor power consumption in a split air conditioner.

Main Results:

• A 13.33% increase in the evaporator's heat transfer rate was achieved.
• The system's coefficient of performance (COP) improved by 13.63%.
• Operating time to reach the desired temperature reduced by 23.3%, with optimal results at 9 Hz, and compressor power consumption remained negligibly affected.

Conclusions:

• Pulsating flow is a highly effective and practical method for enhancing air conditioning evaporator performance.
• The technique offers significant improvements in heat transfer, COP, and operational efficiency.
• Its simplicity and cost-effectiveness make it easily adaptable to existing and new cooling systems.