Theoretical and experimental analysis of capillary tube-suction line heat exchangers

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5951810

Pate, M B

The proper design of tube-suction heat exchangers is an important factor in energy conservation. The capillary tube is a long length of small diameter (0.028 inch for this study) drawn, copper tubing that restricts and regulates the refrigerant flow in a refrigeration system. The suction line is a lesser length of larger diameter (0.25 inch for this study) copper tubing that acts as the rturn line from the evaporator to the compressor. The capillary tube and suction line are soldered together to form the capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger. A literature survey showed that substantial literature and information exists for designing adiabatic capillary tubes (zero heat transfer with the suction line), but there is very little information that can be used to design capillary tube suction line heat exchangers. An experimental test loop was designed and built for testing the capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger. This test loop completely simulated a refrigeration system while providing easily controlled test conditions. A capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger was also instrumented with pressure taps and thermocouples. A capillary tube-section line heat exchanger was experimentally tested for a wide range of conditions including; variable heat exchanger length conditions, subcooled inlet, quality inlet and choked flow. The resulting experimental data were used to calculate the thermodynamic state along the capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger, to verify the theoretical model, and to make design decisions.

• OSTI ID: 5951810
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
CAPILLARY FLOW
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSERVATION
FLUID FLOW
HEAT EXCHANGERS
TESTING
TUBES