Numerical Comparison Using CFD of R134a and R600a Condensation in Helical and Spiral Exchangers

The objective of this research document is to analyze numerically through the ANSYS software using the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tool, to determine the behavior of refrigerants R134a and R600a in the condensation process that is generated in the helical and spiral exchangers. For the investigation, fluid mechanics parameters were adjusted as thermal, for this the work equations were obtained through different texts and investigations and initial parameters were established for the work fluids and characteristics of the pipe. In addition, in the specific analysis of condensation, the Fluent tool of the ANSYS software was used, defining the mesh and applying the Euler volume fraction model. It is evident that the best results obtained in the simulations correspond to cases E and M with ambient temperatures of 20 ℃ and 17 ℃ at an inlet velocity of 1.2 m/s with geometry of the helical-type exchanger for refrigerants. R134a and R600a, respectively. Where outlet temperatures of 296.025 K and 295.622 K are obtained, in addition to visualizing that in all the study cases the condensation phenomenon occurs and the temperature at the outlet of the coil register values like those obtained numerically.