NH₃ condensation in a plate heat exchanger: Experimental investigation on flow patterns, heat transfer and frictional pressure drop

This paper investigates NH₃ condensation in a plate heat exchanger by visualizing the flow patterns and measuring heat transfer coefficients and frictional pressure drop. Visualization experiments were conducted between 20 and 100 kgm⁻²s⁻¹. Full film flow takes place at large mass fluxes and intermediate mass fluxes of low vapor qualities, while partial film flow occurs at small mass fluxes and intermediate mass fluxes at high vapor qualities. The heat transfer and frictional pressure drop experiments cover the mass fluxes of 21~78 kgm⁻²s⁻¹, the averaged vapor qualities of 0.05~0.65 and the saturated pressure of 630 to 930 kPa. Vapor qualities have significant influences on heat transfer and frictional pressure drop. In the tested ranges, the effect of mass fluxes is noticeable on frictional pressure drop, but is moderate on heat transfer. The impact of saturated pressure is small. The heat transfer reflects the change of flow patterns. The frictional pressure drop shows the characteristics of separated flow.