Performance Analysis of Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger using Different Nanofluids

Abstract

Heat exchanger is the most important function in industrial sector for transferring heat energy to useful work. Heat transfer occurs between the cold fluid and hot fluid or from hot fluid to cold fluid in conduction and convection mode of through a heat exchanger wall. If heat transfer medium has very low thermal conductivity, it would have limited the efficiency of heat exchanger. Whenever the system is subjected to increased heat load, cooling is the main technical challenge for industries. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of shell and tube heat exchanger experimentally and analyse the flow behaviours of different nanofluids. In our experimental analysis, various nanofluids which consist of water and one percentage volume concentration of Al2O3, CuO and SiO2 passing through tube side in the shell and tube heat exchanger. The nano particle diameter is 70nm. The three dissimilar mass flow rates are considered for the experiments and their results are continuously monitored. The enhancement of heat transfer performance of CuO, Al2O3, SiO2 is compared with the base fluid water. Reynolds number values are calculated with three different mass flow rates and compared with heat transfer characteristics (LMTD, Nusselt number and overall heat transfer coefficient). SEM analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction of CuO, Al2O3 and SiO2.are conducted. The heat transfer effectiveness is increased by 22.12%, 19.46% and 1.47% respectively for CuO, Al2O3 and SiO2 when compared to base fluid.