Performance of dual-row condenser using microplate and conventional folded multiport extruded tube: A prospective pilot study

Microchannel heat exchangers (MCHXs) are typically manufactured using multiport extruded tubes and serpentine louvered fins, which exhibit deficiencies in corrosion resistance. Tubes made of multilayered aluminum have been shown to improve the corrosion performance. This study explored the thermal–hydraulic performance of a novel microplate heat exchanger (MPHX) with a dual-row design that utilizes advanced materials such as multilayer aluminum through comparison with conventional folded MCHXs. The results indicate that the heat transfer rate of the dual-row MPHX was at most 30 % higher compared to that of conventional folded MCHX for the same frame size. However, heat transfer of the MPHX was approximately 10 % lower than that of the conventional folded MCHX for the same effective face area. Additionally, the conventional folded MCHX is highly sensitive to the installation orientation and flow configuration; it fails to function when installed vertically and in co-current flows owing to issues such as liquid blockage. Such phenomena were not observed in the dual-row MPHXs. On the refrigerant side, the MPHXs exhibited pressure drops that were three to four times higher than that of a conventional folded MCHX.