The performance of an evaporator with a non-uniform air velocity distribution was compared with that with a uniform air velocity distribution. The non-uniform air velocity distribution on the surface of the evaporator was measured experimentally. The evaporator simulation was conducted with the air velocity profile measured. The simulation results for the evaporator with the non-uniform air velocity distribution agree well with the experimental data. The results show that for the non-uniform air velocity profile

the capacity sum of the tubes with higher air velocity than the uniform one is greater than that for the uniform velocity. The capacity sum of the tubes with lower air velocity for the non-uniform air velocity is smaller than that for the uniform velocity

however

the decrease in the capacity sum of the tubes with lower velocity is much greater than the increase in the capacity sum of the tubes with higher air velocity. Moreover

the heat transfer coefficient has a non-linear relationship with the air velocity. In addition

the decline of the evaporator capacity increases with the difference between the circuit outlet states.