A MCDM Methodology to Determine the Most Critical Variables in the Pressure Drop and Heat Transfer in Minichannels

Eloy Hontoria, Alejandro López-Belchí, Nolberto Munier and Francisco Vera-García
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Eloy Hontoria: Department of Business Economics, Technical University of Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena-Murcia, Spain
Alejandro López-Belchí: University Centre of Defence at the Spanish Air Force Academy, 30720 Santiago de la Ribera-Murcia, Spain
Nolberto Munier: Technical University of Valencia, Ingenio, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Francisco Vera-García: Department of Thermal Engineering and Fluids, Technical University of Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena-Murcia, Spain

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: This paper proposes a methodology aiming at determining the most influent working variables and geometrical parameters over the pressure drop and heat transfer during the condensation process of several refrigerant gases using heat exchangers with pipes mini channels technology. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology was used; this MCDM includes a mathematical method called SIMUS (Sequential Interactive Modelling for Urban Systems) that was applied to the results of 2543 tests obtained by using a designed refrigeration rig in which five different refrigerants (R32, R134a, R290, R410A and R1234yf) and two different tube geometries were tested. This methodology allows us to reduce the computational cost compared to the use of neural networks or other model development systems. This research shows six variables out of 39 that better define simultaneously the minimum pressure drop, as well as the maximum heat transfer, saturation pressure fluid entering the condenser being the most important one. Another aim of this research was to highlight a new methodology based on operation research for their application to improve the heat transfer energy efficiency and reduce the CO 2 footprint derived of the use of heat exchangers with minichannels.

Keywords: condensers; refrigeration; optimization; SIMUS; minichannels pressure drop; heat transfer coefficient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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