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Author has developed a correlation to predict condensation heat transfer coefficients for refrigerant condensation in an automotive parallel flow condenser. This is a first correlation in the open literature for HFO-1234yf to predict heat transfer coefficients for an automotive condenser. The system refrigerant mass flowrate was varied from 180 to 475 kg/hr; inlet refrigerant qualities from 1 to exit qualities of 0. The tests were conducted at an average condenser saturation temperature of 50°C and the oil circulation ratio was maintained at 3%.

Author has developed a correlation to predict flow boiling heat transfer coefficients for refrigerant evaporating in an automotive evaporator. This is a first correlation in the open literature for HFO-1234yf to predict heat transfer coefficients for automotive evaporator. The refrigerant mass flux was varied from 500 to 1200 kg/m2.s; heat flux was varied from 2 to 6.2 kW/m2; inlet refrigerant qualities from 0 to 40% and exit qualities of about 95%. The tests were conduct at 4.4 °C and the oil circulation ratio was maintained at 3%. Experimental data has been used with MINITAB software, Version 16.1.0 to develop this correlation. Multivariate nonlinear regression analysis has been done to develop this correlation. Experimental data along with refrigerant properties, hydraulic diameter that affects Reynolds number, Prandtl number and other appropriate variables have been used to develop this correlation. Details of the newly developed correlation have been presented in the paper.

Experimental studies have been conducted to determine the energy stored in vehicle's Cockpit Module (CPM) at cold soaking conditions for a MY2012 production vehicle. Detailed analysis has been done in this paper to show the influence of energy stored in various components (e.g., Instrument panel, HVAC system, heat exchanger, wire harness, etc.) contained within the CPM unit. Experiments conducted show that the instrument panel stores the maximum amount of energy at a given temperature.

Experimental studies have been conducted to determine the energy stored in vehicle's Cockpit Module (CPM) at high ambient and at high solar heat loads for a MY2012 production vehicle. Detailed analysis has been done in this paper to show the influence of energy stored in various components (e.g., Instrument panel, HVAC system, heat exchanger, wire harness, etc.) contained within the CPM unit. Experiments were conducted to show the amount of energy stored at high ambient and solar conditions.

Experimental tests were conducted on a parallel flow condenser with HFO-1234yf as the working fluid on an AC system bench to determine average and local heat transfer coefficients during condensation of HFO-1234yf for mass flow rates that are typically encountered from idle to highway speeds (800 to 3000 rpms). A condenser from MY 2008 medium-sized sedan was used for this investigation. All original OEM parts were used with the alternate refrigerant. Same TXV set-point was used with HFO-1234yf. The magnitude of the measured heat transfer coefficient for condensation was found to be 8~12% lower in comparison to HFC-134a. The magnitudes of the pressure drop during condensation were of the same magnitude as HFC-134a system. The information from this investigation can be used to in the design of condensers for mobile air conditioning systems with HFO-1234yf as the working fluid.

Tests were conducted with a laminate evaporator for an automotive application. The tests were conducted with HFO-1234yf as the working fluid on an AC system bench. A laminate evaporator from MY 2008 medium-sized sedan was used for this investigation. Flow boiling heat transfer coefficients were experimentally determined for HFO-1234yf for this laminate evaporator. Heat transfer coefficients have also been computed from standard correlations available from the open literature. The experimentally obtained heat transfer coefficients are within ±20% of the simulated data based on standard correlation (Kandlikar, 1990). Pressure gradients for these two fluids calculated from Lockhart and Martinelli (1949) correlation shows that the pressure gradients for HFO-1234yf are lower by 15%. Detailed results have been presented in this paper.

To improve fuel consumption, hybrid system, turbo-charged engine, and clean diesel engine vehicles have been developed. These new systems require additional heat exchangers which reduces air flow rate within the heat exchangers of an engine cooling module. Consequently, power of cooling fan is increased. CalsonicKansei (CK) has developed a new cooling module “SLIM” (Single Layer Integrated cooling Module). This consists of a current condenser which is air-cooled and a new water-cooled condenser. This water cooled condenser is specifically designed to bring superheated refrigerant vapor to saturated conditions. The water-cooled condenser is located inside of the sub-radiator tank. The operation of the sub-radiator is to provide cooling to charge air cooler (CAC) and to water-cooled condenser. The switch of the operation is done automatically without any valve and any actuator.

Tests were conducted with a laminate evaporator for an automotive application. The tests were conducted with HFO-1234yf as the working fluid on an AC system bench. A laminate evaporator from MY 2008 medium sized sedan was used for this investigation. Tests were first conducted with R-134a and were then repeated by maintaining each test condition by changing the working fluid from R-134a to HFO-1234yf. Charge determination tests were also conducted with the new refrigerant. The refrigerant was used as “drop-in” refrigerant in the existing system. All original OEM parts were used with the alternate refrigerant. Same TXV set-point and lubricant type and quantity was used with HFO-1234yf. The new refrigerant has advantages due to the refrigerant thermodynamic properties that helps reduce the pressure ratio. Detailed test results have been presented in this paper.

An experimental investigation has been carried out to quantify the performance enhancements with a suction line heat exchanger (SLHX) in an AC system with HFO-1234yf as the working fluid. An off-the-shelf double pipe cross fluted SLHX is used for this investigation. System level bench tests are conducted with an AC system from a 2009 MY mid-sized sedan. The test results shows that the AC system performance with HFO-1234yf can be improve up to 8~9% in comparison to a baseline system without a SLHX.