Final answer:
The volumetric flow rate of the refrigerant at the inlet is zero because the pressure drop is negligible.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the volumetric flow rate of the refrigerant at the inlet, we can use Poiseuille's law for laminar flow in a pipe:
Q = (pi * r^4 * delta(P))/(8 * eta * L)
where Q is the volumetric flow rate, r is the radius of the pipe, delta(P) is the pressure difference, eta is the viscosity of the fluid, and L is the length of the pipe.
In this case, the diameter of the evaporator flow channel is given as 2.50 cm, so the radius is 1.25 cm. The pressure drop is negligible, so delta(P) can be assumed to be zero. The length of the channel is not provided. The question only asks for the volumetric flow rate at the inlet, so we can ignore the length. Therefore, we can simplify the equation to:
Q = (pi * r^4 * delta(P))/(8 * eta)
Substituting the provided values for radius and pressure drop into the equation, we get:
Q = (pi * (1.25 cm)^4 * 0)/(8 * eta)
Since the pressure drop is zero, the volumetric flow rate at the inlet is also zero. Therefore, none of the answer choices provided (0.00115, 0.0246, 0.00491, 0.00218) are correct.