Experimental results and design procedures for minichannel condensers and evaporators using propylene

Hydrocarbons (HCs) present favorable thermodynamic and transport properties that make them attractive for use in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. The major issue related to HCs is their flammability and hence the realization of low charge heat transfer devices is a key factor for their market placement. Although flammable refrigerants call for charge minimization, propylene heat transfer data inside minichannels is new in the open literature. In the present paper, condensation heat transfer, flow boiling heat transfer and two-phase pressure drop measurements taken with propylene (R1270) inside a 0.96 mm diameter minichannel are presented and compared against correlations. A comparative analysis of the condensation performance of R1270, R290 and two HFCs is made with the objective of minimizing the exergy losses, due to the driving temperature difference between saturation and wall and to the frictional pressure drop. An estimation of the condenser refrigerant charge is also performed. The flow boiling heat transfer performance of R1270 is discussed in comparison to the one of R290.