International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Interdisciplinary Developments [ICRAMID - 2014]

Optimization of MCHX using CFD and Refrigeration

Cycle Simulator
M.Ezhilan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
The Rajas Engineering College,
Vadakangulam 627 116

P.Seeni Kannan
Sethu Institute of Technology,
Pulloor,Karaiapatti 626 106

Abstract -Micro channel heat exchangers (MCHX) can be

broadly classified as fluidic devices that employ channels of
hydraulic diameter smaller than 1 mm. The present study
focused on validate the better configuration parameters of louver
fin used in MCHX for apply in residential air-conditioner
condenser. The study has considered for three different louver
angle case, two different louver lengths for better louver angle
case and finally two different louver pitches for better louver
angle and louver length case. The study indicates that the
pressure drop will depends upon the louver angle and pitch. The
louver angle i.e. 25deg provides reasonable pressure drop and
high heat transfer rate. Thus by changing the length of louver
can increase the pressure drop in MCHX. The case ie., 1.2mm
louver length have more heat transfer rate. But when comparing
to 1mm louver length case Net Heat Transfer rate is high. So the
study further continued by having the louver length 1mm and
changing the louver pitch. The louver pitch 0.8 and 1.2 has only
considered for the study. The length of louver can decrease the
pressure drop in MCHX. The variation of net heat transfer rate
to changing the louver pitch indicating the importance of
number of louver present in the MCHX. Thus the present study
indicates the importance of configuration parameters for
MCHX. The study also indicates that the increasing the louver
length and angle will increase the net heat transfer rate. While
increasing the louver pitch is inversely proportional to the net
heat transfer rate of MCHX.
1.

INTRODUCTION

High efficiency of the microchannel heat exchanger

enables the heat exchanger to be made in smaller size, light
weight, and yet has the same performance as a conventional
round tube-fin heat exchanger. It also reduced the Refrigerant
charge for the cooling system. Due to many advantages of
microchannel heat exchanger, it has been widely applied in
residential air conditioning and automotive industry.
However, comparing with a round tube-fin heat exchanger,
microchannels ports causes higher refrigerant pressure drop
across heat exchanger, it might be an issue to some systems.
B.Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
The computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the science
of predicting the fluid flows, heat transfer and related
phenomenon by solving numerically the set of governing
equations i.e. conservation of mass, momentum and energy.
These governing equations are either in form of integral or
partial differential equations.CFD is the art of replacing the
integral or partial derivatives in these equations with
discretized algebraic form, which are further solved to obtain
numbers for the flow field values at discrete points in time
and/or space. There are number of discretization methods used
in CFD codes. The equations are discretized and solved
iteratively for each control volume. As a result, an
approximation of the conserved variable averaged across the
control volume can be obtained. This derives a full picture of
the behavior of the flow.

A. Micro Channel Heat Exchanger (MCHX)

2.

Microchannel heat exchangers (MCHX) can be broadly

classified as fluidic devices that employ channels of hydraulic
diameter smaller than 1 mm. The micro-channel heat
exchanger posses advanced characters comparing with a
conventional round tube-fin heat exchanger. Refrigerant flows
through multiple microchannel flat tubes, which contain
microchannels ports rather than single wall round tubes. This
significantly enhances the heat transfer area and overall film
coefficient of the micro channel heat exchanger.

LITERATURE SURVEY

Xiangfei LIANG [1] made a study the air-side heat

transfer and pressure drop characteristics of micro-channel
heat exchanger (MCHX) with flat-tube louver fin. The study
has carried out in computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
simulation and experiment method. The Study were not
enough to fully investigate the test samples air-side
performance, so the main aim of experimental investigation
was to offer effective data to validate CFD model. The airside experimental data were reduced using effectiveness-NTU
method. They made the comparison between CFD simulations
and experimental data and showed that established 3-D CFD

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model had very good prediction ability. Based on CFD

simulation results, some optional configuration parameters for
flat-tube louver fin were proposed.
Yogesh V. Birari [2] has invested the experimental
research and cfd simulation on microchannel evaporator
header to improve heat exchanger efficiency Microchannel
evaporator performs superior heat transfer efficiency and
capacity at compact size comparing with conventional tube fin
evaporator. Design an appropriate coil header assembly is one
of major tasks, which could affect the desired heat exchanger
efficiency and capacity. An experimental investigation of
three coil inlet header configurations, which are single, dual
and distributor inlet headers, is conducted in the paper. A
practical evaluation method, by means of measuring air
temperature differential across coil to evaluate refrigerant
distribution uniformity in coil header, is introduced. CFD
models are also generated to simulate refrigerant liquid flow
contours of these three inlet header configurations. Finalize
the research; the distributor header configuration appears the
most uniform distribution in conjunction with symmetrical
flow distribution. The dual inlet header configuration also
significantly improves distribution uniformness and symmetry
comparing with the single inlet header configuration.
The scope of the present study is to validate the better
configuration parameters of louver fin used in MCHX for
apply in residential air-conditioner condenser.

TABLE I
THE CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS FOR THREE DIFFERENT CASES
OF THE PRESENT STUDY

Description

Case A

Case B

Case C

Louver angle (in degree)

24

25

26

Louver length(mm)

Louver pitch(mm)

Fin thickness(mm)

0.1

0.1

0.1

Case 1: Configuration Parameter Of MCHX For Study On Varying The

Louver Angle.

Description

Case D

Case E

Louver angle (in degree)

25

25

A. Case Setup and Pre-processing

Louver length(mm)

0.8

1.2

Since the performance of the MCHX depends up on

the configuration parameters, the study has been carried out
by varying the louver angle, louver pitch and louver length.
The Fig 1 indicates the isometric view of Microchannel Heat
Exchanger. CATIAV5 modeling package software is used to
model the Microchannel Heat Exchanger. MCHX
performance has been analyzed with CFD simulation method
under commonly used residential air conditioner condenser
condition. To reduce the computational period, only half of
the fin and half of the tube are represented.

Louver pitch(mm)

Fin thickness(mm)

0.1

0.1

Case 2: Configuration Parameter Of MCHX For Study On Varying The

Louver Length.

Description

Case F

Case G

Louver angle (in degree)

25

25

Louver length(mm)

Louver pitch(mm)

0.8

1.2

Fin thickness(mm)

0.1

0.1

Fig. 1 Isometric view of micro channel heat exchanger

Case 3: Configuration Parameter of MCHX for Study on Varying the Louver

Pitch.

Based on the reference study, the present study has been

spitted into three cases. Initially the study has been focused on
varying the louver angel and then the study has been
concentrate on varying the louver length. Finally, the study
has been elaborated on varying the louver pitch. The Table. I
shows the configuration parameter for the three different cases
of the present study.

The geometries have been imported into a

preprocessor where fluid and solid zones are decomposed. To
reduce the computational period, only half of the fin and half
of the tube are represented. Fluid and solid zones are meshed
with unstructured scheme. In the region of large gradient,
reasonable fine grid was created in order to minimize the

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change in flow variable from cell to cell. The Fig. 2 indicates

the discretized model for the present study. Mesh quality was
checked for node point distribution, smoothness and cell
shape i.e. skewness and aspect ratio. The tube wall
temperature of the CFD simulation is 45 degree, the air inlet
velocity is set as 2 m/s and the air inlet temperature is 35
degree. That is common condition of condenser for residential
air conditioner.

Case A

Fig. 2 The discretized model for the present study

3.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Case 1. Study on Varying the Louver Angle

The Fig.3 describes the pressure drop contour for
varying the louver angel study. The pressure drop occurs in
case A, case B and case C is 25pa, 32pa and 40pa
respectively. In Xiangfei LIANG [1] study also stated the
pressure drop will vary from 20 to 60pa and continues that
pressure drop will depends upon the louver angle and pitch.
The present study also indicates the above statement. The
Fig.4 indicates the variation of pressure drop for
corresponding louver angles. The evaluation of net heat
transfer rate for varying the louver angel has been considered.
The Table.II shows the total heat transfer for the
corresponding louver angles. The Fig.5 indicates the variation
of Net Heat transfer rate for corresponding louver angles. The
Case C heat transfer rate is not much higher than the Case B
heat transfer rate which indicating that heat transfer rate is not
depending upon the louver angle. When considering the above
three cases, Case B louver angle i.e. 25deg provides
reasonable pressure drop and high heat transfer rate.
Therefore, the further study has been focused on the louver
angle 25deg and varying the louver length as well as louver
pitch.

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Case B

Case C
Fig. 3 Pressure Drop Contour for Varying the Louver Angel Study

International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Interdisciplinary Developments [ICRAMID - 2014]

B. Case 2. Study on Varying the Louver Length

The Fig. 6 indicates the pressure drop contour for
varying the louver length study. The study has focused on
louver length 0.8 and 1.2 because from the investigation of
saber et al., [3] study. The pressure drop for Case D and Case
E are 42 and 62 pa respectively. Thus by changing the length
of louver can increase the pressure drop in MCHX. The Fig.7
indicates the variation of pressure drop for corresponding
louver Length. Further the study has been focused on net Heat
transfer rate for the Case D and Case E. The Table.III shows
the total heat transfer for the corresponding louver length. The
Fig.8 indicate the variation of Net Heat transfer rate for

Fig. 4 Pressure Drop for Three Louver Angles.

TABLE II

corresponding Case D and Case E. while comparing the cases

D and E, the Case E i.e., 1.2mm louver length have more heat
transfer rate but when comparing to Case B i.e. 1mm louver
length Net Heat Transfer rate is high. So the study further
continued by having the louver length 1mm and changing the
louver pitch.

NET HEAT TRANSFER RATE FOR THE THREE CASES.

S No

Description

Net Heat Transfer Rate(w)

Case A (24deg)

711.43

Case B (25deg)

3392.73

Case C (26deg)

3396.23

Case D

Case E
Fig.5 Net Heat transfer Rate.

Fig. 6 Pressure drop contour for varying the louver length study.

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The Table IV shows the total heat transfer for the

corresponding louver pitch. The Fig 11 indicates the variation
of Net Heat transfer rate for corresponding Case F and Case
G. The variation of net heat transfer rate to changing the
louver pitch indicating the importance of number of louver
present in the MCHX.

Fig. 7 Variation of Pressure Drop for Different Louver Length.

TABLE III
TOTAL HEAT TRANSFER RATE.

S.No

Description

Net Heat Transfer Rate(w)

Case D (0.8mm)

811.43

Case E (1.2mm)

2592.73

Case F

Case G
Fig. 9 Pressure Drop Contour for Varying the Louver Pitch Study.

Fig. 8 Variation of Net Heat transfer rate for Case D and Case E.

C. Case 3. Study on Varying the Louver Pitch

Xiangfei LIANG [1] study declared that the variation
of louver pitch can significantly varies the performance of
MCHX. The Fig.9 Indicates the pressure drop contour for
varying the louver Pitch study. The louver pitch 0.8 and 1.2
has only considered for the study. The pressure drop for Case
F and Case G are 28 and 15 pa respectively. Thus by changing
the length of louver can decrease the pressure drop in MCHX.
TheFig.10 indicates the variation of pressure drop for
corresponding louver Pitch. Further the study has been
focused on net Heat transfer rate for the Case F and Case G.

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Fig. 10 Variation Of Pressure Drop For Different Louver Pitch.

International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Interdisciplinary Developments [ICRAMID - 2014]

louver pitch 0.8 and 1.2 has only considered for the study. The
pressure drop for Case F and Case G are 28 and 15 pa
respectively. Thus by changing the length of louver can
decrease the pressure drop in MCHX. The variation of net
heat transfer rate to changing the louver pitch indicating the
importance of number of louver present in the MCHX. Thus
the present study indicates the importance of configuration
parameters for MCHX. The study also indicates that the
increasing the louver length and angle will increase the net
heat transfer rate. While increasing the louver pitch is
inversely proportional to the net heat transfer rate of MCHX.

TABLE IV
TOTAL HEAT TRANSFER RATE.

S.No

Description

Case F (0.8mm)

Case G
(1.2mm)

Net Heat Transfer

Rate(w)
121.43
443.73

REFERENCES

Fig. 11 Total Heat Transfer Rate.

4.

CONCLUSION

The present study focused on validate the better

configuration parameters of louver fin used in MCHX for
apply in residential air-conditioner condenser. The pressure
drop occurs in case A, case B and case C are 25pa, 32pa and
40pa respectively. The study indicates that the pressure drop
will depends upon the louver angle and pitch. The Case C heat
transfer rate is not much higher than the Case B heat transfer
rate which indicating that heat transfer rate is not depending
upon the louver angle. When considering the above three
cases, Case B louver angle i.e. 25deg provides reasonable
pressure drop and high heat transfer rate. The study has
focused on louver length 0.8 and 1.2 mm. The pressure drop
for Case D and Case E are 42 and 62 pa respectively. Thus by
changing the length of louver can increase the pressure drop in
MCHX.
While comparing the cases D and E, the Case E i.e.,
1.2mm louver length have more heat transfer rate but when
comparing to Case B i.e., 1mm louver length Net Heat
Transfer rate is high. So the study further continued by having
the louver length 1mm and changing the louver pitch. The

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[1]. Tu Xiaoping, Lin Huahe , Liang Xiangfei, 2010, Simulation and

Experimental Study on Airside Performance for MCHX,International
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference.
[2]. Yogesh V. Birari, Sanjay S. Gosavi, Pavan P. Jorwekar, 2006, Use
of CFD in Design and Development of R404A Reciprocating
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heat pipe heat exchanger using Fluent to increase of the thermal
efficiency.
[4] Anderson, J. D., Jr., 1995, Computational Fluid Dynamics, The
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York.
[5] Jiin-Yuh Jang and Ying-Chi Tsai, 2011, Department of mechanical
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louver angle design for a louvered fin heat exchanger.
[6] Hie Chan Kang, Hyun Silk Oh, Min Kyoo LEE, Hyejung Cho, Jin Ho
Kim, Anthony M.Jacobi, 2012, Kansan National University, School
of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering , South Korea, Air-Side
Heat Transfer Performance of Louver Fin and Multi-Tube Heat
Exchanger for Fuel-Cell Cooling Application.
[7] Zhao-gang Qi, Jiang-ping Chen, Zhi-jiu Chen, 2006, Institute of
Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
Shanghai, China. Parametric study on the performance of a heat
exchanger with corrugated louvered fins.
[8] Z.Xiaogang and D.K. Tafti, April 1999, Effect of Fin Pitch on Flow
and Heat Transfer in Multilouvered Fins.
[9] Balvinder Budania, Harshdeep Shergill, June 2012, Student of Master
in Technology, RIEIT Ropar, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, RIEIT Ropar. Simulation of flow structure and heat
transfer enhancement in a triangular duct with rectangular wing.
[10] X.Zhang, D.K. Tafti, 2002, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Virginia Tech, USA, Flow efficiency in multi-louvered fins.