Consider a condenser unit (shell and tube heat exchanger) of an HVAC facility
where saturated refrigerant \(\mathrm{R} 134 \mathrm{a}\) at a saturation
pressure of \(1318.6 \mathrm{kPa}\) and a rate of \(2.5 \mathrm{~kg} /
\mathrm{s}\) flows through thin-walled copper tubes. The refrigerant enters the
condenser as saturated vapor and it is desired to have a saturated liquid
refrigerant at the exit. The cooling of refrigerant is carried out by cold
water that enters the heat exchanger at \(10^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and exits at
\(40^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Assuming initial overall heat transfer coefficient of
the heat exchanger to be \(3500 \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} \cdot \mathrm{K}\),
determine the surface area of the heat exchanger and the mass flow rate of
cooling water for complete condensation of the refrigerant. In practice, over
a long period of time, fouling occurs inside the heat exchanger that reduces
its overall heat transfer coefficient and causes the mass flow rate of cooling
water to increase. Increase in the mass flow rate of cooling water will
require additional pumping power making the heat exchange process
uneconomical. To prevent the condenser unit from under performance, assume
that fouling has occurred inside the heat exchanger and has reduced its
overall heat transfer coefficient by \(20 \%\). For the same inlet temperature
and flow rate of refrigerant, determine the new flow rate of cooling water to
ensure complete condensation of the refrigerant at the heat exchanger exit.