TO-98-09-1 -- Effect of Airflow Nonuniformity on Evaporator Performance PDF

A 1.5 ton window air conditioner was extensively instrumented and tested over a wide range of wet- and dry-coil operating conditions. Published air- and refrigerant-side heat transfer correlations were found to characterize wavy-fin evaporator performance quite well under dry conditions but less so when wet. Evaporator face velocity nonuniformities were measured and found to range over a factor of three. A second set of tests was conducted in a wind tunnel, using an identical evaporator exposed to uniform airflow. Results showed, over a wide range of operating conditions having superheated exit conditions, that sensible and latent heat transfer and air-side pressure drop penalties resulting from these nonuniformities were quite small.

Units: Dual