International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD) ISSN 2249-6890 Vol.

3, Issue 1, Mar 2013, 9-18 TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF AZEOTROPIC BLEND (30% PROPANE, 55% n-BUTANE, 15% ISO BUTANE) REFRIGERANT FLOW THROUGH THE SERPENTINE CAPILLARY TUBE IN VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
SUDHARASH BHARAGAVA & JAGDEV SINGH Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur, Punjab, India

ABSTRACT
This paper represents an experimental investigation of effect of pitch and length on the flow of eco-friendly gas in an adiabatic serpentine capillary tube. In this experimental investigation azeotropic blend (30% propane,55% nbutane,15% iso-butane) is used as refrigerant. During the experiment it has been seen that the mass flow rate of refrigerant through the serpentine capillary tube has been greatly influenced by the pitch as well as the length of capillary tube. Various capillary tubes with different length, inner diameter and pitches are prepared as test sections. The inlet pressure of capillary tube is kept constant and the mass flow rate for different capillary tubes is measured for different pitches and lengths. To obtain the mass flow rate through the straight capillary tubes experiments for straight capillary tubes has also been conducted. Mass flow rates of serpentine capillary tubes are compared with mass flow rates of straight capillary tubes and it has been found that the mass flow rates of serpentine capillary tubes are less than that of the straight capillary tubes.

KEYWORDS: Serpentine Capillary Tube, Straight Capillary Tube, Vapor Compression Refrigeration System, EcoFriendly Refrigerant

INTRODUCTION
Refrigerant flow control device is one of the components of vapor compression refrigeration system. There are six basic types of refrigerant flow control devices which are Hand expansion valve, Automatic expansion valve, Thermostatic expansion valve, Capillary tube, Low pressure float and High pressure float. Among all these flow control devices mentioned above capillary tube is one of the simple one. Capillary tubes are generally used in small equipments such as room air conditioners and small sized packaged air conditioners. The capillary tube is used to give restriction in the liquid line. The capillary tubes are available with various diameters and lengths. Usually, the capillary tubes have diameters ranging from 0.025 mm to 2.0 mm and lengths ranging from 2 m to 6 m. Capillary tubes are small sized tubes and because of its small tube size, it creates a considerable pressure drop. Capillary tube has got various advantages over expansion devices such as capillary tubes are simple, inexpensive, and also allow the compressor to start at low torque. In the past few decades both experimentally and numerically the flow characteristics of refrigerants through the capillary tubes has been studied. It has been seen that mostly the studies are focused on straight capillary tubes. However, in practical applications for a compact unit the capillary tubes are generally coiled. In order to establish the effect of coiling on the flow performance of refrigerants lots of study and work is required. A proper sized capillary tube can increase the performance of refrigeration system to some large extent. Moreover, with the advent of new eco-friendly refrigerants, the studies of coiled capillary tubes with eco-friendly refrigerants become all more important to select appropriate sized capillary tubes for a particular application.

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The various flow aspects of the capillary tube were investigated by a number of researchers since past few decades. Bolstad and jordan (1948) pioneered the investigations on capillary tubes. They studied the effect of oil entrainment on the flow rate through the capillary tube. It was found that the use of oil separator in the system decreases the flow rate by 8% in comparison to that when no oil separator was used. A numerical model based on homogenous twophase flow model was presented using Ito (1959) friction factor correlation for single phase flow. Mikol (1963) carried out an extensive experimental investigation on the capillary tube to explore the various flow phenomena like met stability and choking. They developed a friction factor correlation by flowing water through the same capillary tube. The effect of cooling on the refrigerant, mass flow rate of the refrigerant has been discussed by a few investigators. A numerical model using Mori and Nakayama friction factor correlation, Mori and Nakayama (1967) was also proposed. It was concluded that for the mean coil diameter beyond 300 mm, the change in mass flow rate was insignificant. It was also observed that the refrigerant mass flow rate through a helical capillary tube with coil diameter of 40 mm was approximately 10% less than that of the straight capillary tube. Kuehl and Goldschmidt (1990) have conducted experiments on the flow of R-22 through adiabatic capillary tubes of straight and coiled geometries. They have concluded that because of coiling of capillary tube, the refrigerant mass flow rate was reduced by not more than 5%. In addition, a numerical model based on homogenous two- phase flow model was presented Giri s equation for two-phase flow Gorasia et al. (1991). It has been revealed a slightly higher drop in mass flow rates of the coiled capillary tubes compared to those in straight capillary tubes as reported by Kim et al. (2002). Kim et al. (2002) have studied the flow of R-22 and its alternatives, viz., R-407C and R410A through the straight and helically coiled adiabatic capillary tubes. They have observed 9% reduction in refrigerant mass flow rate through a coiled tube in comparison to that in straight tube of same length. Zhou and Zhang (2006a) conducted an experimental investigation on helically coiled capillary tubes for the flow of refrigerant R-22. Further, Zhou and Zhang (2006b) confirmed the hysteresis in refrigerant mass flow increasing and decreasing inlet sub cooling in an adiabatic helical capillary tube. The hysteresis effect was more prominent in helical capillary tube than that in straight tube due to disturbance generated from the secondary flows caused by the centrifugal force. It was also found that in the coiled capillary tube refrigerant flashed earlier with decreased coil diameter as reduction in coil diameter caused the pressure drop to increase. However, for validation of the numerical model with the experimental data, the increasing sub cooling data should be taken into account due to their consistency and reproducibility. Deodhar et al. (2006) have conducted an experimental and numerically investigation on R-134a refrigerant through straight and helically coiled capillary tube. Experiments carried out on helically coiled capillary tubes indicate an increase in resistance to the flow due to coiling. Mass flow rate through a capillary tube of coil diameter of 20 mm is lower by about 9 19 percent than that through the straight capillary tube. It been has revealed a slightly higher drop in mass flow rates of the coiled capillary tubes compared to those in straight capillary tubes as reported by Zhou and Zhang (2006a). . Park et al. (2007) studied the flow of R-22 and its alternatives, R-407 and R-410A, through coiled adiabatic capillary. It was found by park et al. (2007) that the mass flow rate of the coiled capillary tubes decreased was decreased by 5-16% in comparison to that for the straight capillary tubes. They also proposed a generalized mass flow rate correlation for helically coiled capillary tubes based on Buckingham- theorem. Valladares (2007) also presented a numerically simulation model for the coiled capillary tubes based on the finite volume formulation. The solution was carried out using an implict step- by- step numerical scheme. The calculation of mass flow rate was made iteratively using Newton-Raphson Algorithm. Khan et al. (2007) have proposed the numerical model for the computation of length of adiabatic spiral capillary tube. The model for spiral capillary tube is compared with model for the straight capillary tube operating under similar condition. It has been found that because of cooling the length of capillary tube reduced considerably for a given set of conditions. Khan et al. (2008a) investigated the effect of cooling on the mass flow rate of R-134a in helical capillary tube by varying the coil pitch in the range of 20 60

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mm for the coil diameter of 140 mm. They observed that the coiling of capillary tube reduces the mass flow rate 5-15% as compared to those of straight capillary tube operating under similar condition. Khan et al. (2008b) also examined the flow characteristics of R-134a in spiral capillary tube having coil pitch of 20, 40 and 60mm. They concluded that the mass flow rate in spiral capillary tube is 5 15% less than that of the straight capillary tube. They also developed non dimensional correlation to predict the mass rate of R-134a in spiral capillary tube. Mittal et al. (2009) proposed a homogenous model for the adiabatic flow of the refrigerant through the spiral capillary tube. A comparison of the flow characteristics of refrigerant R22and its alternatives, i.e.,R407CR410A has been made at different operating conditions and it has been found that the flow characteristics of R407C and R410A are almost similar for a given condenser pressure and degree of sub cooling at the inlet of sub cooling. Zhou et al. (2012) investigates the inlet pressure fluctuations for the coiled capillary tube. It has been found that pressure fluctuation for coiled capillary tube is much more prominent than for straight ones.

METHODOLOGY AND PLANNING OF WORK

Figure 1: Schematic Figure of Experimental Setup The experimental facility as shown above consists of a simple vapor compression refrigeration system charged with azeotropic blend as a refrigerant. The evaporator and condenser are shell and tube type adiabatic heat exchangers. Refrigerant flows through copper tubes of inside diameter as inch throughout the condenser, evaporator and connecting lines. All connecting tubes of refrigerant are well insulated by polyurethane cellular foam. Water can flow through the insulated shell of each of the evaporator and condenser and there is an arrangement for control and measurement of water flow rate through each. . Hand operated valves and connectors are provided before and after the capillary tube to facilitate its replacement. The temperature of refrigerant at various points is measured with PT-100 (strongly insulated along length of tubes by means of polyurethane cellular foam). Pressure of refrigerant is measured and indicated by separate dial gauges at four points before and after each of the evaporator and condenser. Mass flow rate of refrigerant liquid after condenser is indicated by a glass tube rotameter fitted in the refrigerant line after condenser. A digital wattmeter gives the instant value of power consumption of compressor and also the total energy consumed during whole trial. The pressure at capillary inlet is adjusted to 760 kpa. The inlet cooling sub cooling is randomly set in the range up to 1 oC to 13 oC

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The capillary tubes of internal diameter 1.12 mm, 1.40 mm and 1.52 mm were used in the experiments. Different lengths of capillary tubes used in the experiment are 2.5 m, 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1 m and 4.5 m. Capillary tubes of different length and different internal diameter were shaped into straight as well as serpentine coil of pitch 16 mm, 40 mm, 70 mm. Effect of Straight Capillary Tube Length

Figure 1: Variation of Mass Flow Rate with Capillary Tube Length All the perimeters such as capillary internal diameter, inlet pressure degree of sub cooling and all other perimeters has been kept constant and the effect of different lengths of capillary tubes on the mass flow rate of the refrigerant has been studied. It has been noted that as the length of the capillary tubes increases the mass flow rate of the refrigerant decreases because of increase in frictional resistance. For capillary tube of internal diameter 1.12 mm as the length of the capillary tube increases from 2.5 m to 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1 m and 4.5 m, the mass flow rate is decreased by 10 percent, 11 percent, 14 percent, 20 percent and 27 percent respectively. For 1.40 m capillary internal diameter as the length of the capillary tube increases from 2.5 m to 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1 m and 4.5 m, the mass flow rate is decreased by 6 percent, 15 percent, 18 percent, 19 percent and 20 percent respectively. For capillary tube of internal diameter 1.52 m as the length of the capillary tube increases from 2.5 m to 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1 m and 4.5 m, the mass flow rate are decreased by 8 percent, 14 percent, 16 percent, 18 percent and 28 percent respectively. In all the above cases mass flow rate decreases as the length of the capillary tube increases because of increase of frictional force. As the length of the capillary tube increases, frictional force also increases. The overall effect of friction

Experimental Study of Azeotropic Blend (30% Propane, 55% n-Butane, 15% iso Butane)Refrigerant Flow through the Serpentine Capillary Tube in Vapor Compression Refrigeration System

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due to length has been found prominent in capillaries having lesser diameter as explained in 1.12mm as compared to capillaries having larger diameter of 1.52 mm.

Effect of Pitch on Mass Flow Rate (Serpentine Capillary Tube)

The effect of pitch on the mass flow rate of the refrigerant can be studied by considering that capillaries have different internal diameter, but having same length, inlet capillary tube pressure and degree of sub cooling.

Figure 3: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Pitch For length 2.5 m and internal diameter 1.12 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 8 percent and 14 percent. For length 2.5 m and internal diameter 1.40 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, mass flow rate increased by 2 percent and 6 percent. For length 2.5 mm and internal diameter 1.52 mm as the pitch increase from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 5 percent and 8 percent.

Figure 4: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Pitch For length 2.9 m and internal diameter 1.12 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm mass flow rate increased by 7 percent and 13 percent. For length 2.9 m and internal diameter 1.40 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, mass flow rate increased by 3 percent and 7 percent. For length 2.9 mm and internal diameter 1.52 mm as the pitch increase from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 7 percent and 10 percent.

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Figure 5: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Pitch For length 3.3 m and internal diameter 1.12 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm mass flow rate increased by 7 percent and 12 percent. For length 3.3 m and internal diameter 1.40 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, mass flow rate increased by 6 percent and 10 percent. For length 3.3 mm and internal diameter 1.52 mm as the pitch increase from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 4 percent and 9 percent.

Figure 6: Variation of Mass Flow of Capillary Tube with Pitch For length 3.7 m and internal diameter 1.12 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm mass flow rate increased by 6.5 percent and 11 percent. For length 3.7 m and internal diameter 1.40 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, mass flow rate increased by 4.5 percent and 9 percent. For length 3.7 mm and internal diameter 1.52 mm as the pitch increase from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 3 percent and 6.5 percent.

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Figure 7: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Pitch For length 4.1 m and internal diameter 1.12 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm mass flow rate increased by 6 percent and 11 percent. For length 4.1 m and internal diameter 1.40 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, mass flow rate increased by 7 percent and 14 percent. For length 4.1 m and internal diameter 1.52 mm as the pitch increase from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 4 percent and 8.5 percent.

Figure 8: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Pitch For length 4.5 m and internal diameter 1.12 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm mass flow rate increased by 7 percent and 13 percent. For length 4.5 m and internal diameter 1.40 mm as the pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, mass flow rate increased by 6 percent and 11 percent. For length 4.5 mm and internal diameter 1.52 mm as the pitch increase from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm, the mass flow rate increased by 5 percent and 11 percent. In case of pitches of capillary tube in the above cases, it has been concluded that as the pitch increases mass flow rate also increases because of decrease of centrifugal force. For pitch 70 mm centrifugal force is minimum and mass flow rate is maximum and for pitch 16 mm centrifugal force is maximum and mass flow rate is minimum.

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Effect of Length on Mass Flow Rate on Straight and Serpentine Capillary Tubes with Different Pitches

Figure 9: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Length For internal diameter of capillary tube 1.12 mm and length 2.5 m, it has been found that mass flow rate of the refrigerant decreases, as we use serpentine capillary tube of pitches 70 mm, 40 mm and 16 mm compared to straight capillary tube . Mass flow rate is decreased by 9 percent, 15.5 percent, and 22 percent respectively. As we fallow the same approach for lengths 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1, and 4.5 m mass flow rate is decreased by 15 percent, 20 percent, 26.5 percent, 15 percent, 19 percent, 25 percent, 16 percent, 19 percent, 28 percent, 12 percent, 17 percent, 23 percent, 7.4 percent, 13.6 percent and 20 percent respectively.

Figure 10: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with Length For internal diameter of capillary tube 1.40 mm and length 2.5 m, it has been found that mass flow rate of the refrigerant decreases as we use serpentine capillary tube of pitches 70 mm, 40 mm and 16 mm compared to straight capillary tube . Mass flow rate is decreased by 14 percent, 17 percent kg/hr, and 22 percent respectively. As we fallow the same approach for lengths 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1, and 4.5 m mass flow rate is decreased by 14 percent, 17.5 percent, 23

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percent, 13 percent, 19 percent, 23.5 percent, 17 percent, 24.5 percent, 29 percent, 21 percent, 30 percent, 34.5 percent, 27 percent, 35 percent and 38.7 percent respectively.

Figure 11: Variation of Mass Flow Rate of Capillary Tube with length For internal diameter of capillary tube 1.52 mm and length 2.5 m, it has been found that mass flow rate of the refrigerant decreases as we use serpentine capillary tube of pitches 70 mm, 40 mm and 16 mm compared to straight capillary tube . Mass flow rate is decreased by 16 percent, 19 percent, and 23 percent respectively. As we fallow the same approach for lengths 2.9 m, 3.3 m, 3.7 m, 4.1, and 4.5 m mass flow rate is decreased by 13.8 percent, 17 percent, 22 percent, 16 percent, 20 percent, 23 percent, 17.5 percent, 23 percent, 27.5 percent, 22 percent, 25 percent, 30 percent, 23 percent, 26 percent and 31 percent respectively. From the above discussion, it is concluded that the mass flow rate of straight capillary tube is more and it decreases as we use serpentine capillary tube of pitches 70 mm, 40 mm, 16 mm. Mass flow rate decreases because in straight capillary tube only frictional force acts and no centrifugal force acts. Whereas in serpentine shaped capillary tube centrifugal force also acts along with frictional force, centrifugal force is more when pitch is 16 mm and it decreases as pitch increases from 16 mm to 40 mm and 70 mm. Because of this fact mass flow rate is more when capillary tube is straight and is less when pitch is 16 mm.

CONCLUSIONS
The mass flow through straight capillary tube is more than the serpentine shaped capillary tube. Mass flow rate through the serpentine shaped capillary tubes of pitches 70 mm, 40 mm, 16 mm and for diameters 1.52 mm, 1.40 mm and 1.12 mm are 16 percent, 19 percent and 23 percent less than that of mass flow rate through straight capillary tube of diameter of same diameters.

REFERENCES
1. Bolstad, M.M., Jordan, R.C., 1948. Theory and use of the capillary tube expansion device. Refrigerating Engineering, 519-523. 2. Milkol, E.P., 1963. Adiabatic single and two-phase flow in small bore tubes. ASHRAE Journal, 75-86.

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3.

Kuehl, S.J., Goldschmidt, V.W., (1990). Steady flows of R-22 through capillary tubes: test data. ASHRAE Trans. 719-728.

4.

Zhou, G., Zhang, Y., 2006. Numerical and experimental investigations on the performance of coiled adiabatic capillary tube. Applied Thermal Engg. 26, 1106-1111.

5.

Zhou, G., Zhang, Y., 2006. Experimental investigation on the hysteresis effect of refrigerant flowing through a coiled adiabatic capillary tube. Energy Conservaion Manag. 47, 3084-3093.

6.

Deodhar, D.S., Prabhu, V.S., Iyer, K.N., 2006. Experimental and numerical investigations of two-phase flow through (adiabatic and heated) and helically coiled (adiabatic) capillary tubes. 18th National and 7th ISHMTASME Heat and Mass Transfer conference, IIT Guwahati, India.

7.

Park, C., Lee, S., Kang, H., Kim, Y., (2007). Experimentation and modelling of refrigerant flow through coiled capillary tube. International Journal of Refrigeration 30, 1168-1175

8.

Khan, M.K., Sahoo, P.K., Kumar, R., 2008a. Experimental study of the flow of R-134a through a adiabatic helical coiled capillary tube. HVAC&R Res. 14(5), 749-762.

9.

Khan, M.K., Sahoo, P.K., Kumar, R., 2008b. An experimental study of the flow of R-134a inside inside an adiabatic spirally coiled capillary tube. International Journal of Refrigeration 31(6), 970-978.

10. Mittal, M.K., Kumar, R., Gupta, A., (2009). Numerical analysis of adiabatic flow of refrigerant through a spiral capillary tube. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 48, 1348-1354. 11. Zhou, G., Zhang, Y., 2012. Inlet pressure fluctuation characteristics of coiled capillary tubes. Applied Thermal Engineering, 33-34, 183-189.