Experimental investigation of performance of microchannel condenser with effect of air velocity for personal cooling system for firefighters

Abstract

Personal Cooling Systems (PCS) were developed because they reduce heat stress and heat-related injuries. PCS performance depends on the environmental factors namely, ambient temperature, air velocity, intensity level, and humidity. Among these factors, air velocity has the potential to cause improper air distribution over the tube bundles of air-cooled condensers, exhaust air recirculation, and poor fan performance. Hence, our goal is to experimentally investigate the performance of PCS using two microchannel condensers (MC-1 and MC-2) with effect of air velocity (1.5-8.5 m/s). PCS performance is determined by cooling capacity, COP, and reversible efficiency. They increase as air velocity and heat input increase. At maximum air velocity (8.5 m/s), cooling capacity, COP and reversible efficiency of MC-1 is 0.2%, 2.4% and 12.62% more than MC-2 for 100 W. Although, at same air velocity (8.5 m/s), cooling capacity, COP and reversible efficiency of MC-1 is 3.2%, 0.2% and 13.1% more than MC-2 for 500 W. Result shows that difference in cooling capacity and COP of MC-1 and MC-2 are just less than 3.2%. Hence, it is concluded that MC-1 and MC-2 performed similarly at all air velocities. Though, based on condenser size and weight, MC-2 is preferred for development of a PCS.