Numerical analysis of the influence of circuit arrangement on a fin-and-tube condenser performance

In the present paper a model for the steady-state simulation of fin-and-tube condenser is developed. The model is based on a finite volume approach that divides each tube into small elemental volumes where mass, momentum and energy conservation equations are solved using the effectiveness-NTU method and with appropriate correlations for void fraction, friction factor and heat transfer coefficient calculation. The model is validated against experimental data on two small condensers finding that the calculated heat transfer rate and refrigerant-side pressure drop agree within ±5% and ±21% respectively to the experimental values. The model is then used to numerically analyse the impact of different circuit arrangements on the condenser heat transfer rate, refrigerant-side pressure drop and refrigerant charge