Use of Organic and Copper-Based Nanoparticles on the Turbulator Installment in a Shell Tube Heat Exchanger: A CFD-Based Simulation Approach by Using Nanofluids

Heat exchangers with unique specifications are administered in the food industry, which has expanded its sphere of influence even to the automotive industry due to this feature. It has been used for convenient maintenance and much easier cleaning. In this study, two different nanomaterials, such as Cu-based nanoparticles and an organic nanoparticle of Chloro-difluoromethane (R-22), were used as nanofluids to enhance the efficiency of heat transfer in a turbulator. It is simulated by computational fluid dynamics software (Ansys-Fluent) to evaluate the Nusselt number versus Reynolds number for different variables. These variables are diameter ratio, torsion pitch ratio, and two different nanofluids through the shell tube heat exchanger. It is evident that for higher diameter ratios, the Nusselt number has been increased significantly in higher Reynolds numbers as the heat transfer has been increased in turbulators. For organic fluids (R-22), the Nusselt number has been increased significantly in higher Reynolds numbers as the heat transfer has been increased in turbulators due to the proximity of heat transfer charges. At higher torsion pitch ratios, the Nusselt number has been increased significantly in the higher Reynolds number as the heat transfer has been increased in turbulators, especially in higher velocities and pipe turbulence torsions.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the heat transfer efficiency in a shell tube heat exchanger with different variables using nanofluids. The Nusselt number significantly increased with higher Reynolds numbers for higher diameter ratios and organic fluids, showing improved heat transfer in turbulators. Moreover, at higher torsion pitch ratios, the Nusselt number also showed a significant increase with higher Reynolds numbers, especially at higher velocities and pipe turbulence torsions.