Local NH₃ condensation in a plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The availability of open source experimental data of NH3 condensation within plate heat exchangers (PHEs) is very limited. This work attempts to extend the database. For this purpose step by step experiments are carried out in a setup capable of local measurements. Temperature sensors have been installed along a PHE to obtain the temperature profile. The local heat flux and the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) are then calculated from the energy balances. Condensation of NH3 has been investigated with varying vapor quality at different mass fluxes. The experimental results are compared with the heat transfer models developed for the condensation of NH3 in tubes and for the condensation of HFCs in PHEs.