Development of Nusselt number correlation using dimensional analysis for plate heat exchanger with a carboxymethyl cellulose solution

Abstract

Versatile applications of plate heat exchangers (PHE's) in various industrial processes signify their command over other types of heat exchangers. The objective of this work was to derive Nusselt number correlations using dimensional analysis in terms of all the parameters to determine the heat transfer coefficients in a PHE for various concentrations of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution and it was also compared with the available models in literature. The heat transfer coefficient increases with increase in concentration of CMC from 0.1 to 0.6 %w/w and also increases with increase in mass flow rates of both cold and hot fluids from 0.016 to 0.099 kg/s. The Nusselt number correlation developed using dimensional analysis has predicted the Nusselt number for the given PHE with a RMS deviation of 14.61.