In determining the mass flow rate of refrigerant R134a liquid-vapour in a horizontal tube, a simple method that combines the outputs of venturi and turbine flowmeters, without the need for void fraction or quality measurement, was examined. The results showed that this method can be used to determine the two-phase mass flow rate relatively well for the entire quality range. This method was particularly accurate in determining the mass flow rate data in the high-quality range, i.e., in annular flow. Moreover, this method also showed a reasonable accuracy in predicting the void fraction. The use of this method in predicting the two-phase mass flow rate was compared with the use of a venturi meter or a turbine flowmeter and a void fraction meter. The comparison showed that at qualities higher than 0.6, the present method, which combined the output signals of both the turbine and venturi meters, is superior to those that use one of the flow signals and void fraction and/or quality measurement. At lower qualities, the present method still offers a fairly accurate technique for measuring the liquid-vapour refrigeration mass flow rate.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, measuring, refrigerants, flow rate, fluid flow, flowmeters, venturi meters, comparing, R134a, horizontal, tubes, accuracy, performance, refrigeration