Enhancing Vapor Compression Cycle Performance Through Experimental And Numerical Insights On Water-Cooled Condensers

Abstract

This study investigates the performance benefits of integrating a water-cooled condenser (WCC) into a laboratory vapor compression cycle (VCC) com- pared to a baseline air-cooled condenser (ACC). We combine experiments across five water flow rates (425–1050 LPH) with steady RANS CFD (SST k–ω) to assess condenser outlet temperatures, compressor work, and the Coefficient of Performance (COP). The WCC reduced condenser outlet tem- perature by up to 8 ^◦C (at 1050 LPH) relative to lower flow operation and increased COP from 0.94 to 1.17 over the tested range. CFD reproduced experimental outlet temperatures within 0.2 ^◦C to 3.1 ^◦C. Novel aspects in- clude: (i) paired experimental–numerical validation for a compact WCC un- der multiple water-side Reynolds numbers (6.7×10³ to 1.7×10⁴), (ii) an ex- plicit link between water-side Reynolds number and system COP, and (iii) a consolidated discussion of practical limitations (water availability, fouling, and pumping penalties). The results indicate that modest increases in water flow can yield measurable COP gains while maintaining practical pumping requirements.