The Effect of the Air Flow Nonuniformity on the Thermal Performance of Automobile Air Conditioning Condenser

A mathematical method for determination of the heat transfer effectiveness of the air conditioning condenser accounting for the effect of the nonuniform cooling air flow distribution is presented. Using twelve typical two-dimensional air flow maldistribution models, the heat transfer effectiveness of the condenser is calculated. The deterioration of the thermal performance of the condenser due to the effect of the air flow nonuniformity is then determined. The effect of the air flow nonuniformity on the sizing of the condenser is discussed.