Abstract
This study involves the experimental verification of a universal heat exchanger accumulator design procedure. A heat exchange accumulator was manufactured according to a mathematical model developed by the authors and installed into a small air conditioning system. Experimental results show that the addition of the heat exchanger accumulator results in a liquid overfeeding operation that replaces the previously utilized direct expansion operation. It provides an improved air conditioning system that has a 7.5% increase in coefficient of performance and a 4.4% increase in refrigerant mass flow rate. A pressure ratio reduction has a positive effect on the compressor performance and life span. Liquid overfeeding increases the cooling capacity of the system by 6.5%. When compared to direct expansion systems, this basic heat exchanger accumulator provides a reduction in cycling losses and power consumption, an increase in suction pressure and an improvement in isentropic compressor efficiency.
