EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM USING MICROCHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

The potential performance enhancement of a residential split air conditioning system with a microchannel heat exchanger is investigated numerically and verified experimentally. Replacement of fin and tube condenser in the air conditioning system with a microchannel condenser is studied. Numerical analysis of refrigerant flow through microchannel is done and the results shows that the microchannel offers a higher volumetric heat exchange capacity with increased heat transfer area due to the cross section with hydraulic diameter of micrometre range. A residential split air conditioning system of 2 TR cooling capacity with fin and tube condenser and refrigerant R22 is considered for the analysis. The system's numerical and experimental performance analysis is done, and the potential replacement of the fin and tube condenser with a microchannel condenser of the exact dimensions is analysed. The heat duty of the condenser is increased by 82% when the microchannel heat exchanger is installed. Numerical analysis shows that the COP of the system can be improved by 16% by replacing the fin and tube condenser with a microchannel condenser. The microchannel condenser can reduce the overall weight of the outdoor unit since it is compact and 38% lighter than the ordinary bulky fin and tube condenser.

The potential performance enhancement of a residential split air conditioning system with a microchannel heat exchanger is investigated numerically and verified experimentally. Replacement of fin and tube condenser in the air conditioning system with a microchannel condenser is studied. Numerical analysis of refrigerant flow through microchannel is done and the results shows that the microchannel offers a higher volumetric heat exchange capacity with increased heat transfer area due to the cross section with hydraulic diameter of micrometre range. A residential split air conditioning system of 2 TR cooling capacity with fin and tube condenser and refrigerant R22 is considered for the analysis. The system's numerical and experimental performance analysis is done, and the potential replacement of the fin and tube condenser with a microchannel condenser of the exact dimensions is analysed. The heat duty of the condenser is increased by 82% when the microchannel heat exchanger is installed. Numerical analysis shows that the COP of the system can be improved by 16% by replacing the fin and tube condenser with a microchannel condenser. The microchannel condenser can reduce the overall weight of the outdoor unit since it is compact and 38% lighter than the ordinary bulky fin and tube condenser.