Vapor compression refrigeration testing on parabolic flights: Part 2 - heat exchanger performance

Propositions of vapor compression cycles for microgravity applications have a long history. In contrast, experimental efforts and implemented are rare in general recent years even less than the 1980s 1990s. The paper shows results from cycle on parabolic flights. focus lies effects varying gravity forces condenser evaporator. Flow visualizations clearly showed change to an annular or slug-annular flow regime at evaporator inlet shortly after onset gravity. discharge pressure was found consistently increase sharply by 1–3% across widely operating conditions. Oscillations were observed some parabolas due microgravity. Overall, response based cooling capacity can be categorized four different groups, which appear dependence both mass rate superheat.