The first preliminary tests carried on a new experimental rig for measurement of the local heat transfer coefficient inside a circular 0.8 mm diameter minichannel are presented in this paper. The heat transfer coefficient is measured during condensation of R134a and is obtained from the measurement of the heat flux and the direct gauge of the saturation and wall temperatures. The heat flux is derived from the water temperature profile along the channel, in order to get local values for the heat transfer coefficient. The test section has been designed so as to reduce thermal disturbances and experimental uncertainty. A brief insight into the design and the construction of the test rig is reported in the paper. The apparatus has been designed for experimental tests both in condensation and vaporization, in a wide range of operating conditions and for a wide selection of refrigerants.

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