An experimental study of flow pattern and pressure drop for flow boiling inside microfinned helically coiled tube

In this paper, flow patterns and their transitions for refrigerant R134a boiling in a microfinned helically coiled tube are experimentally observed and analyzed. All the flow patterns occurred in the test can be divided into three dominant regimes, i.e., stratified-wavy flow, intermittent flow and annular flow. Experimental data are plotted in two kinds of flow maps, i.e., Taitel and Dukler flow map and mass flux versus vapor quality flow map. The transitions between various flow regimes and the differences from that in smooth straight tube have also been discussed. Martinelli parameter can be used to indicate the transition from intermittent flow to annular flow. The transition from stratified-wavy flow to annular or intermittent flow is identified in the vapor quality versus mass flux flow map. The flow regime is always in stratified-wavy flow for a mass flux less than 100 kg/m(2) s. The two-phase frictional pressure drop characteristics in the test tube are also experimentally studied. The two-phase frictional multiplier data can be well correlated by Lockhart-Martinelli parameter. Considering the corresponding flow regimes, i.e., stratified and annular flow, two frictional pressure drop correlations are proposed, and show a good agreement with the respective experimental data. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.