Influence of Circuitry Arrangement on the Pressure Drops of Two-Row Finned Tube Evaporators

Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the effect of circuitry on the refrigerant-side pressure drops of plate finned tube evaporators. Experiments were performed with countercross, parallel-cross, and z-shape arrangements. The results showed that the parallel-cross-flow circuit gives a lower pressure drop than other arrangements. Generally, the refrigerant-side pressure drops increase with air frontal velocities. However, for G=200 kg/m2⋅s and parallel flow, the pressure drops decrease with increase of air frontal velocity. This unusual characteristic is most likely related to the flow pattern transition when subjected to heat addition.