An investigation for the performance of the using of nanofluids in shell and tube heat exchanger

Abstract

The performance of employing multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based on distilled water with various volume concentrations in shell and tube heat exchanger was investigated. The current investigation was conducted using an Armfield company shell and tube heat exchanger (HT33) and an Armfield heat transfer service unit (HT30X). This investigation utilized three different volume concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 2%). The heated fluid's Reynolds number ranges from 2500 to 12,500 for distilled water and nanofluids. By monitoring the variables, we were able to calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, friction factor, mean Nusselt number, and effectiveness. Nanofluids have a significant impact on the heat transfer process, depending on the concentration of nanoparticles in the base fluid, according to experimental data. With increasing volume concentration, the overall heat coefficient, Nusselt number, and effectiveness increase. Due to the increase of viscosity of the nanofluids than distilled water, the pressure drop and friction factor increased. The percentage increase of the overall heat coefficient ranges between 6% and 76.4%, compared to distilled water, according to the value of Φ. The Nusselt number increased by up to 55.6% when the volume concentration percentage was 2%, which is the highest increase. 19.4%–38.7% increase in effectiveness when using MWCNTs nanofluids instead of distilled water with a volume concentration up to 2%. To determine the Nusselt number as a function of Re and Φ, a correlation is proposed. By comparing the current study's findings to those published in the literature, a reasonable agreement can be discovered.