• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.435-449
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• 1995

In this paper, pressure drop through a capillary tube is modeled to determine the length of a capillary tube for a given set of conditions. HCFC-22 and its alternatives, HFC-134a, R407B, and R410A are used as working fluids. The conditions on which the model is tested are as follows : condensing temperature; 40.0, 45.0, 50.0, $55.0^{\circ}C$, degree of subcooling;0.0, 2.5, $5.0^{\circ}C$, capillary tube exit condition;choked flow, capillary tube diameter;1.2~2.4mm, mass flow rate;5.0~50.0g/sec. The results justify the use of Stoecker's model which yields the results very close to the values in ASHRAE handbook. While McAdams' method yields much better results than Duckler's in calculating the viscosity of the fluid in 2-phase, the friction factor suggested by Stoecker seems to be the best for capillary tubes of large diameter used in residential air conditioners. For each refrigerant, 372 data with various variables are calculated by the model. The results show that capillary tube length varies very uniformly with changes in condensing temperature and degree of subcooling. Based on this fact, regression analysis is performed to determine the dependence of mass flow rate on the length and diameter of a capillary tube, condensing temperature, and degree of subcooling. Thus determined correlation yields a mean deviation of 2.36% for 1,488 data, showing an excellent agreement.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.118-128
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• 1998

Capillary and short tube orifice have been widely used as an expansion device in refrigeration and air-conditioning system. To improve the system performance, expansion devices need to be optimized with the components of a refrigeration system. In the present study, a numerical model for a capillary, which can predict properties along a tube and flow rate through a tube, was developed by assuming homogeneous two-phase flow, A semi-empirical flow model that can be used to evaluate the flow rate through a short tube orifice was also developed by summarizing the experimental data. Finally, the results of the numerical model for capillaries were compared with those of the semi-empirical model for short tube orifices to verify dominant flow factors for the expansion devices.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.255-262
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• 2008

The simulation of refrigeration cycle is important since the experimental approach is too costly and time-consuming. The present simulation focuses on the effect of capillary tube-suction line heat exchangers (CT-SLHX), which are widely used in small vapor compression refrigeration systems. The simulation of steady states is based on fundamental conservation equations of mass and energy. These equations are solved simultaneously through iterative process. The non-adiabatic capillary tube model is based on homogeneous two-phase model. This model is used to understand the refrigerant flow behavior inside the non-adiabatic capillary tubes. The simulation results show that both of the location and length of heat exchange section influence the coefficient of performance (COP). These results can be used in either design calculation of capillary tube length for refrigeration cycle or effect of suction line heat exchanging on refrigeration cycle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2013

In this paper, a high-speed imaging and an image processing technique have been applied to detect the position of a meniscus as a function of time in the micro capillary flows. Two fluids with low and high viscosities, ethylene glycol and glycerin, were dropped into the entrance well of a circular capillary tube. The filling times of the meniscus in both cases of ethylene glycol and glycerin were compared with the theoretical models - Washburn model and its modified model based on Newman's dynamic contact angle equation. To evaluate the model coefficients of Newman's dynamic contact angle, time-varying contact angles under the capillary flows were measured using an image processing technique. By considering the dynamic contact angle, the estimated filling time from the modified Washburn model agrees well with the experimental data. Especially, for the lower-viscosity fluid, the consideration of dynamic contact angle is more significant than for the higher-viscosity fluid.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2000

The capillary tube performance for R-407C is experimentally investigated. The experimental setup is a real vapor-compression refrigerating system. Mass flow rate is measured for various diameter and length while inlet pressure and degree of subcooling are changed. These data are compared with the results of a numerical model. The mass flow rate of the numerical model is about 14% less than the measured mass flow rate. It is found that mass flow rate and length for R-407C are less than those for R-22 under the same condition. Based on this experimental study and the numerical model, a set of design charts for capillary tube of R-407C is proposed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2029-2038
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• 2024

A deep understanding of the characteristics and mechanism of geyser boiling and capillary pumping is necessary to optimize a high-temperature sodium heat pipe. In this work, the Volume of Fluid (VOF) two-phase model and the capillary force model in the mesh wick were used to model the complex phase change and fluid flow in the heat pipe. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations successfully predicted the process of bubble nucleation, growth, aggregation, and detachment from the wall in the liquid pool of the evaporation section of the heat pipe in horizontal and tilted states, as well as the reflux phenomenon of capillary suction within the wick. The accuracy and stability of the capillary force model within the wick were verified. In addition, the causes of geyser boiling in heat pipes were analyzed by extracting the oscillation distribution of heat pipe wall temperature. The results show that adding the capillary force model within the wick structure can reasonably simulate the liquid backflow phenomenon at the condensation; Under the horizontal and inclined operating conditions of the heat pipe, the phenomenon of local dry-out will occur, resulting in a sharp increase in local temperature. The speed of bubble detachment and the timely reflux of liquid sodium (condensate) replenishment in the wick play a vital role in the geyser temperature oscillation of the tube wall. The numerical simulation method and the results of this study are anticipated to provide a good reference for the investigation of geyser boiling in high-temperature heat pipes.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.492-498
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• 1999

Mass flow rates of R407C and R290 through capillary tubes were measured with various capillary tube geometries and flow conditions. For all refrigerants tested in the present study, mass flow rate through the capillary tube was strongly dependent on the condensing pressure, subcooling and capillary length and diameter. The flow rate of R407C was 5~10［%］ higher than that of R22 at the same condensing temperature and degree of subcooling, while flow rate for R290 was 40［%］ lower than that for R22. Based on experimental results, an empirical correlation was developed using Pi theorem to predict the mass flow rate through capillary tubes. The predicted flow rates using the model were consistent with the experimental data within ${\pm}$10[%］.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2009

The simulation of refrigeration cycle is important since the experimental approach is costly and time-consuming. The present paper focuses on the simulation of a refrigeration cycle equipped with a capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger(SLHX), which is widely used in small vapor compression refrigeration systems. The present simulation is based on fundamental conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy. These equations are solved through an iterative process. The non-adiabatic capillary tube model is based on homogeneous two-phase flow model. This model is used to understand the refrigerant flow behavior inside the non-adiabatic capillary tube. The simulation results show that both of the location and length of heat exchange section influence the coefficient of performance (COP).

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.589-599
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• 1995

The frictional pressure drop of a capillary tube flow is experimentally investigated for pure refrigerants such as R32, R125, and R134a and refrigerant mixtures such as R32/R134a(30/70 by mass percent), R32/R125(60/40), R125/R134a(30/70), and R32/R125/R134a(23/25/52). The binary interaction parameters for the calculation of viscosities of refrigerant mixtures are found based upon the data in the open literature. Several homogeneous flow models predicting the viscosity of two-phase region are compared to select the best model. Cicchitti's equation is known to be the most adequate for the prediction of the viscosity for refrigerant mixtures, which is used in the analysis of adiabatic capillary flows. A model for the prediction of the frictional pressure drop of single and two-phase flow is developed for refrigerant mixtures in this study. This model may be used to design and analyze the performance of a capillary tube in the refrigerating system.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.47-54
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• 2008

Capillary tubes are widely used as expansion device in small refrigeration systems. The refrigerant flowing in the capillary tube experiences frictional and accelerational head losses, and flashing, simultaneously. In this paper flow characteristics of adiabatic capillary tubes with various friction factor models, two-phase viscosity models, and two-phase frictional multiplier models were simulated. The predicted pressure distribution, mass flow rate are compared with experimental data reported in literature. It is confirmed that the predicting accuracy with homogeneous model can be improved by employing the suitable correlations of friction factor and two-phase viscosity model, and two-phase frictional multiplier.