Heat transfer characteristics of wire-and-tube and hot-wall condensers

This paper presents a comparative study of the performance of wire-and-tube and hot-wall condensers commonly used in domestic refrigerators. Both condensers were tested on the same refrigerator in the natural convection mode. Experiments were carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 4474-1997 on these condensers to determine condenser capacity and pressure loss. Simulation models were developed for both the condensers, which led to the evaluation of heat transfer coefficients, resistances, and temperature profiles along the condensers. The outer heat transfer resistance from condenser to the ambient air contributes about 80% to 90% of the total resistance for both condensers. In general, the hot-wall condenser was found to have approximately 10% to 18% more capacity than the wire-and-tube condenser due to its larger internal heat transfer area and configuration. This is the first investigation of its kind and may trigger further research on the topic.