Thermal Flow Analysis of HFC-134a MFC Condenser for Automotive Air-Conditioner

A thermal fluid flow analysis for multiflow channel(MFC) condenser for automotive air-conditioning system using HFC-134a refrigerant has been carried out. The present study has been done as a part of the work intended to develop a design tool of HFC-134a refrigerant air conditioning system for passenger vehicle by applying a steady state simulation scheme to obtain the performance optimization.

Thermodynamic and flow properties of HFC-134a refrigerant and temperature profile of the air flow over the surface of MFC condenser are predicted as a function of flow channel distance using a model of finite difference method. Variations of the heat transfer rate and pressure distribution are predicted under consideration of the actual multiflow channel constructions. The results of the predicted analysis obtained from the simulation analytical model were found to be conform with the known actual operation conditions of HFC-134a condenser in passenger vehicle air conditioning system.