Liquid flow friction factor and heat transfer coefficient in small channels: an experimental investigation

Bruno Agostini (1, 2) , Barbara Watel (1, 3) , André Bontemps (3) , Bernard Thonon (1)

1 GRETh/LETH - Laboratoire Systèmes Thermiques
2 ADEME - Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie
3 LEGI - Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels [Grenoble]

This article presents friction factor and heat transfer coefficient experimental results obtained with a liquid flow of R134a in rectangular mini-channels. Two test sections made of aluminium multi-port extruded (MPE) tubes (channels dimensions 1.11 × 1.22 mm and 0.73 × 0.72 mm) were tested. Mass flux ranges from 65 to 2900 kg/m2 s and heat flux from 210 to 49 700 W/m2. The emphasis has been put on metrology problems and how they influence experimental results in mini-channels. Literature correlations for large tubes were found to predict our results reasonably well.

Domaines: Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]

Bruno Agostini, Barbara Watel, André Bontemps, Bernard Thonon. Liquid flow friction factor and heat transfer coefficient in small channels: an experimental investigation. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2004, 28, pp.97-103. ⟨10.1016/S0894-1777(03)00027-X⟩. ⟨hal-00189117⟩