The effect of using nano-particles on corrugated plate heat exchanger performance

The application of nano-fluids is thought to have a strong potential for enhancing the heat transfer characteristics of the corrugated plate heat exchanger-PHE. The corrugated PHE is one of the most versatile and wide using types of heat exchangers. In this study, an experimental test loop has been constructed to study the PHE thermal characteristics; heat transfer coefficient, effectiveness, transmitted power and pressure drop at different concentrated volume fractions of AL(2)O(3) nano-material (1-4%) in pure liquid water as a base fluid. The measured heat transfer coefficient results were compared and verified against a theoretical model, a reasonable consistence was noticed. A pronounced increase in both the heat transfer coefficient and the transmitted power was observed by increasing the nano-material concentration. The maximum increase in heat transfer coefficient is reached 13% for a nano-fluid concentration of 4% vol. However, the increase in heat transfer coefficient is up to 13% under an uncertainty of 9.8%, at constant Re number. If it is compared at constant flow rate, this marginal enhancement will be further reduced. So the application of nano-fluids as a strong potential for enhancing the heat transfer in the corrugated PHE is doubtful for the current study. Both the pressure drop and the required pumping power were increased with the increase in nanofluid concentration and Reynolds number value. The maximum increase in pressure drop was recorded 45% above the base fluid value at 4% vol. of nanofluid, while the pumping power was recorded 90% higher due to the dual effect of increase in both the pressure drop and the volumetric flow, where the constant Reynolds number condition requires more volumetric flow to compensate the kinematic viscosity effect on Reynolds number. A further research work for the same field is required to remove the inauspicious between different researchers. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.