Numerical Simulation of Hot-Wall Condensers Used in Domestic Refrigerators

• Grant number: 11/16973-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: André Luiz Seixlack
• Grantee: Vinícius Brandani Labigalini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to analyze the performance of hot-wall condensers that are commonly used in domestic refrigerators. This analysis involves modeling the flow of refrigerant inside the condenser tube, conduction heat transfer through the cabinet wall and heat transfer by natural convection and radiation between the outer metal sheet and the environment. The flow inside the tube is considered one-dimensional and divided into single-phase region of superheated vapor, a vapor-liquid two-phase region and another of subcooled liquid. The flow is considered homogeneous in the two-phase flow region, namely, it will be considered thermal and hydrodynamic equilibrium between phases. The pressure drop inside the tube will be considered. The flow simulation along the condenser will be obtained from the numerical solution of the governing equations: mass conservation, momentum and energy conservation, in principle, using the fourth order Runge-Kutta method. The model will be validated by comparing its results with the experimental data available in literature and/or obtained by another models.