@article{Yang2025, 
author = {Guocheng Yang and Bangren Zheng and Guoliang Ding and Jie Chen},
title = {Experimental Investigation on Two-Phase Flow Pattern of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants in the Shell Side of a Helically Baffled Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger},
year = {2025},
journal = {Journal of Refrigeration},
volume = {46},
number = {1},
pages = {101-107},
keywords = {mixed refrigerants, two-phase flow, flow pattern, shell side, helical baffle},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.12465/j.issn.0253-4339.2025.01.101},
doi = {10.12465/j.issn.0253-4339.2025.01.101},
abstract = {The two-phase flow pattern of hydrocarbon working fluids on the shell side of a helically baffled heat exchanger for liquefied natural gas determines its heat transfer performance. This study tested the two-phase flow patterns of propane and ethane/propane mixtures on the shell side of a helically baffled heat exchanger using a visualization experimental method. The test results demonstrated that with the increase in vapor quality, the experimental observations sequentially included stratified flow, stratified-spray flow, and spray flow; as the mass flux of propane increased from 20 kg/(m2·s) to 40 kg/(m2·s), the transition vapor quality from stratified flow to stratified-spray flow decreased from 0.7 to 0.3, while the transition vapor quality from stratified-spray flow to spray flow decreased from approximately 1 to 0.7; when the proportion of ethane increased from 0 to 50%, the transition vapor quality from stratified flow to stratified-spray flow increased from 0.30-0.45 to 0.43-0.55, while the transition vapor quality from stratified-spray flow to spray flow increased from 0.69-0.85 to 0.83-close to 1. The existing flow pattern map for water-air mixtures was inadequate for predicting the flow patterns of hydrocarbon working fluids. A new set of flow pattern transition criteria was established with prediction deviations of approximately 6.5%, 5.5%, and 4.2% for the experimental stratified flow, stratified-spray flow, and spray flow, respectively.}
}