Influence of nanofluids on parallel flow square microchannel heat exchanger performance

• Main Authors: Mohammed H.A., Bhaskaran G., Shuaib N.H., Abu-Mulaweh H.I.
• Other Authors: 15837504600
• Format: Article
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Heat transfer; Microchannel heat exchanger; Nanofluids; Numerical; Parallel flow; Aluminum; Heat exchangers; Microchannels; Organic polymers; Pressure drop; Pumps; Reynolds number; Silica; Silicon oxides; Thermodynamic properties; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Walls (structural partitions); Aluminum oxides; Conjugate heat transfer; Developing Flow; Governing equations; Heat transfer and fluid flow; Heat transfer rate; Increase in pressure; Parallel flows; Performance indices; Pumping power; Silicon dioxide; Temperature profiles; Thermal properties; TiO; Wall shear stress; Nanofluidics
• Institution: Universiti Tenaga Nasional

The effects of using various types of nanofluids and Reynolds numbers on heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics in a square shaped microchannel heat exchanger (MCHE) is numerically investigated in this study. The performance of an aluminum MCHE with four different types of nanofluids (aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), silver (Ag), and titanium dioxide (TiO2)), with three different nanoparticle volume fractions of 2%, 5% and 10% using water as base fluid is comprehensively analyzed. The three-dimensional steady, laminar developing flow and conjugate heat transfer governing equations of a balanced MCHE are solved using the finite volume method. The MCHE performance is evaluated in terms of temperature profile, heat transfer rate, heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, wall shear stress pumping power, effectiveness, and overall performance index. The results reveal that nanofluids can enhance the thermal properties and performance of the heat exchanger while having a slight increase in pressure drop. It was also found that increasing the Reynolds number causes the pumping power to increase and the effectiveness to decrease. � 2010 Elsevier Ltd.