Experimental investigation on diabatic flow of R-134a through spiral capillary tube

The present experimental investigation has been carried out to investigate the effects of various geometric parameters on the mass flow rate of R-134a through diabatic spiral capillary tube. In diabatic flow, the capillary tube is bonded with the compressor suction-line to form a counter-flow exchanger. The lateral type of diabatic capillary tube has been investigated in the present experimental study. The major geometric parameters investigated are capillary tube diameter, capillary tube length and coil pitch. In addition, effect of inlet subcooling on the mass flow rate through diabatic spiral capillary tube is also done. A comparison of the performance of diabatic spiral capillary tube has been made with adiabatic spiral capillary tube. Generalized empirical correlation for diabatic spiral capillary tube has also been proposed. It has been found that the predictions of the proposed correlation lie in the error band of ±7%.