• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.140-150
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• 1996

CFC-12, which has been used most widely in automobile air conditioners and household refrigerators is scheduled to be phased out soon because of its high ozone depletion potential. Now HFC-134a is suggested as an alternative refrigerant for CFC-12. In this Study, we intended to investigate how PAG oil influence evaporation heat transfer and flow pattern, using R-134a and PAG oil influences evaporation heat transfer and flow pattern, using R-134a and PAG oil in the horizontal miro-fin evaporation tube. Experiments were conducted under the flowing est conditions : mass velocity 86-250kg/$m^2$s, heat flux 5-30 ㎾/$m^2$, oil concentration 0-21 wt.% and saturation temperature 5$^{\circ}C$. Local evaporation heat transfer coefficients were found to be higher at the top, side and bottom of the tube in this order. Average heat transfer coefficients turned out to increase with oil concentration increment up to 3 wt.% oil concentration, whereas heat transfer coefficients gradually decreased over 3 wt.% oil concentration, because of oil-rich liquid film was formed on the heat transfer surface. Flow patterns were rapidly transitioned to annular regimes up to 3 wt.% oil concentration. In case of pure refrigerant, measured heat transfer coefficients in the experiments were similar to those of Kandlikar＇s correlation.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2016

This study explores the feasibility of a cold storage system to provide thermal comfort for idle stop and go (ISG) vehicles. ISG function is the most valuable and environmental friendly technology in the current automobile industry. However, when an ISG vehicle stops, meaning when the engine standstill, the air-conditioning system does not work, because the compressor also stops. Therefore, passenger thermal comfort is not maintained, as cold air is not provided in the cabin. Consequently, many automakers have studied electric air-conditioning systems based on electrically-driven compressors or cold storage systems using phase-change materials. The experiments herein were conducted for the feasibility testing of different types of cold storage heat-exchangers, cold storage mediums, and thermo-expansion valves with current air-conditioners. The auxiliary cold storage system, filled with phase-change materials, was located behind the evaporator and almost stacked on top of it. In the experimental results, the air discharge temperature rate of increase was better than the conventional air-conditioning system when the compressor stopped and thermal comfort was maintained with $1.9{\sim}4.3^{\circ}C$ decreases within 60 seconds. The #1 cold storage heat-exchanger (CSH), #2 thermo-expansion valve (TXV) and #2 phase change material (PCM) were chosen because of the best temperature rise delay. It was concluded that a cold storage system is an effective solution for ISG vehicles to maintain thermal comfort during short engine stops.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.730-739
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• 2015

108 microorganism types (79 types of fungi and 29 types of bacteria) were isolated from 25 automobiles generating bad odor when the air conditioner was turned on, and 43 types of fungi and 23 types of bacteria were identified. The analysis of condensate generated by the air conditioners in the automobiles indicated pH 6.4~7.1, 12.5~34.2 mg/L carbon source, 0.9~18.6 mg/L nitrogen source, 0.5~27.8 mg/L ion contents, and 0.1~7.7 mg/L mineral contents. The biofilms were formed by the mesophiles under the summer temperature/humidity condition ($26^{\circ}C$, 70% R.H.), and they were regenerated when the environmental factors (nutritional contents and temperature/humidity) were appropriate even after they were artificially removed. Although the antimicrobials removed 99.9% of planktonic cells within 15 minutes, they were not effective in removing biofilm. Up to 1,950 ppmv of ethanol was observed in the automobile treated with the antimicrobials. Although the figure is lower than the acute toxicity level when inhaled by humans, the health safety of the chemical substances used in the antimicrobials needs to be reviewed.