Date of Award
2015
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Department
Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering
First Advisor
Zongqin Zhang
Abstract
In this study, effects of airflow maldistribution in a prototype V-shaped evaporator (Model CAD501) for an air-conditioning (A/C) system are investigated using computer simulations. The configuration of the fin-and-tube heat exchanger is first simplified into a 30-channel air flow passages and velocity profiles of air flowing through the simplified heat exchanger passages are obtained using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software Abaqus. The performances of the A/C system are then evaluated using thermodynamics software EES (Engineering Equation Solver) based on the velocity distribution provided by the CFD simulation. Methodologies are proposed to solve the problems associated with the air flow mal-distribution. Preliminary experiments are conducted to qualitatively verify some of the computer simulations.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Xinyu, "Thermal Efficiency Enhancement of an A/C System Using Computer Simulations" (2015). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 784.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/784
Terms of Use
All rights reserved under copyright.