Dynamic simulation of a thermostatically controlled counter-flow evaporator

A numerical model is developed to simulate the transient behaviour of a counter-flow water cooling evaporator controlled by a thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) in a vapour compression refrigeration system. The liquid–vapour slip in the two-phase region of the evaporator is accounted for by a void fraction model (VFM). The thermal capacitance of the TEV is included in the analysis. For the purpose of comparison with predictions of the model, experimental data available are filtered to obtain the best estimate of the mean variation of the liquid–vapour transition plane. The predictions are in good trend-wise agreement with the filtered experimental data. The results of the transient simulations demonstrate the dependence of the stability of the evaporator–TEV system on the characteristics of the TEV, the thermal capacitance of the bulb, thermal conductance between the bulb and wall and on the nature of the input disturbance.