SHERHPA : A review of hydrocarbon two-phase heat transfer in compact heat exchangers and enhanced geometries

Summary :
Hydrocarbons are considered as alternative fluids for refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump applications. Pure butane, propane or their mixtures can be adopted, but due to their flammable properties, the systems have to be designed in such a way that the refrigerant charge is minimized. Therefore compact heat exchangers and enhanced geometries are adopted in such systems. In this report, the current state of the art for two-phase heat transfer calculations for pure hydrocarbon and their mixtures is reviewed and analysed.

Recommendations are proposed for estimating evaporation and condensation heat transfer in various geometries including plain and enhanced tubes as well as compact heat exchangers.
Selected correlations are given in annexe. Similar reports will be elaborated for ammonia and carbon dioxide.