Condensation Heat Transfer of Propylene Inside a Compact Horizontal Microfin Tube

In the last decades, HC refrigerants attracted a new interest, first as substitutes for CFC and HCFC refrigerants subjected to phase-out for their large Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and, more recently, as alternatives for HFC refrigerants with large Global Warming Potential (GWP). Nevertheless, the open literature collects just a few experimental data on HCs two-phase heat transfer and pressure drop inside small diameter tubes (ID<6 mm), most of them are quite recent. This paper presents some new experimental data collected during propane condensation inside a 4.2 mm ID horizontal copper microfin tube. Tests were carried out at 30 °C of saturation temperature, and refrigerant mass flux in the range 75–400 kg m −2 s −1 at increasing vapor quality. The effect refrigerant mass velocity and mean vapor quality are evaluated separately. Finally, the experimental data were then used to assess some classical literature correlations