Internal Heat Exchanger Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Effect on System Performance and Compressor Discharge Temperature

As Internal Heat eXchanger (IHX) applications become more numerous for R-134a, and because they will likely become standard with R-1234yf, a detailed look at how they influence system parameters becomes necessary. This paper uses a proprietary air-conditioning system model to evaluate the system impact of three different IHX co-axial geometries. The three IHX cross-sections result in different heat transfer and pressure drops per unit length. The model assumes a 1,000mm suction line, including an IHX whose length is varied from 200mm to 800mm, in 100mm increments.