Experimental study on R-22 condensation heat transfer characteristics in plate and shell heat exchanger

Condensation heat transfer experiments were conducted with plate and shell heat exchangers (P&SHE) using R22. An experimental refrigerant loop has been established to measure the condensation heat transfer coefficient of R-22 in a vertical P&SHE. Two vertical counter flow channels were formed in the P&SHE by three plates of geometry with a corrugated trapezoid shape of a chevron angle of 45/spl deg/. Downflow of the condensing R-22 in one channel releases heat to the cold upflow of water in the other channel. The effect of the refrigerant mass flux, average heat flux, system pressure and vapor quality of R-22 on the measured data were explored in detail. The results indicate that at a higher vapor quality the condensation heat transfer coefficients are significantly higher. A rise in the refrigerant mass flux causes an increase in the h/sub r/. Also, a rise in the average heat flux causes an increase in the h/sub r/. Finally, at a higher system pressure the h/sub r/ is found to be slightly lower.