Pressure drop, local heat transfer coefficient, and critical heat flux of DNB type for flow boiling in a horizontal straight tube with R-123

As far as design safety and operation of heat exchangers with a horizontal flow are concerned, it is necessary to study local heat transfer coefficient, boiling pressure drop, and critical heat flux for flow in a horizontal tube. In the present experimental work, local axial distribution of heat transfer coefficient, two-phase pressure drop, and critical heat flux for the flow boiling in a horizontal straight tube with R-123 as working fluid has been studied. Experiments are performed in horizontal tubes of diameter 11.9 mm and wall thickness 0.4 mm of SS304, having a heated length of 400 mm, 600 mm, and 1000 mm for the mass flux of 180 to 1210 kg/m2s. The local wall temperature is measured using the Infra-Red thermal imaging technique. The local heat transfer coefficients are compared with six different well-known correlations. Also, the two-phase frictional pressure drop is measured and compared with eight different general correlations. In the present study, a sudden rise in wall temperature at any location of a test section is considered as the occurrence of a boiling crisis. The boiling crisis mechanism observed in the present study is of departure from nucleate boiling (DNB). It takes place in the subcooled, or low quality saturated boiling region and in-between the length of the test sections rather than at exit as in the dry-out type of CHF. The critical heat flux is compared with six different predictive correlations. The mechanism of occurrence of CHF in the present work is found to be a departure from nucleate boiling.