Heat transfer and pressure drop during condensation of the low GWP refrigerant R1234yf

The present paper reports local heat transfer coefficients measured during condensation of R1234yf within a single circular 0.96 mm diameter minichannel and compares them to the ones of R134a. This experimental work is carried out in a unique test apparatus which allows to determine the local heat flux extracted from the condensing fluid from the temperature profile of the coolant. For this purpose, the temperatures of the coolant and of the wall are measured along the test section. The saturation temperature is determined from the saturation pressure which is measured at inlet and outlet of the test channel. Condensation tests are carried out at mass fluxes ranging between 200 and 1000 kg m(-2) s(-1) and the heat transfer coefficients result to be lower as compared to the ones of R134a. Since the saturation temperature drop directly affects the heat transfer rate, the pressure drop during adiabatic two-phase flow of R1234yf is also measured and compared to R134a. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.