Flow Boiling of R134a in Circular Microtubes—Part I: Study of Heat Transfer Characteristics

Abstract

An experimental study of two-phase heat transfer coefficients was carried out using R134a in uniformly heated horizontal circular microtubes with diameters from 0.50 mm to 1.60 mm over a range of mass fluxes, heat fluxes, saturation pressures, and vapor qualities. Heat transfer coefficients increased with increasing heat flux and saturation pressure but were independent of mass flux. The effects of vapor quality on heat transfer coefficients were less pronounced and varied depending on the quality. The data were compared with seven flow boiling correlations. None of the correlations predicted the experimental data very well, although they generally predicted the correct trends within limits of experimental error. A correlation was developed, which predicted the heat transfer coefficients with a mean average error of 29%. 80% of the data points were within the ±30% error limit.