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Experimental investigation and performance optimization of thermo-hydraulic and exergetic characteristics of a novel multi-fluid heat exchanger

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Abstract

In this research, the thermo-hydraulic performance of a multi-fluid heat exchanger is experimentally investigated in regard to variations in control parameters, namely flow rate, flow configuration, and inlet temperature. A brazed helix tube (BHT), constructed from a helical coil tube with precision brazing between successive coil turns, is novel and integrated inside the present novel multi-fluid heat exchanger (NMFHE). The NMFHE presented here is part of a residential heating system where concurrent heating of cold water (HF2) and cold air (HF3) takes place with effective heat transfer from hot water (HF1) flowing inside the BHT. The JF factor and entropy generation number (Ns) are considered the key performance parameters of the study and experimentally predicted with respect to variations in control factors. The HF1 flow rate, HF2 flow rate, and flow configuration are identified as the most effective parameters for the JF factor (HF1, HF2, and HF3) with a contribution of 58.67%, 65.88%, and 34.85%, respectively. The HF1 inlet temperature and flow configuration are identified as the most effective parameters for the Ns (HF1, HF2, and HF3) with a contribution of 31.51%, 84.95%, and 98.44%, respectively. Afterward, the thermo-hydraulic performance of the NMFHE is optimized using the Taguchi–Grey technique for maximum JF factor and minimum Ns. The optimized performance of the NMFHE is predicted in counter-flow (cold water reversal) configuration with HF1 and HF2 flow rate of 150 LPH, and HF1 inlet temperature of 353 K and confirmed with significant improvement in Grey relational grade of 8.36%.

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Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CF1:

Counter flow (hot water reverse)

CF2:

Counter flow (cold water reverse)

CF3:

Counter flow (cold air reverse)

HF1 :

Hot water

HF2 :

Cold water

HF3 :

Cold air

LPH:

Litre per hour

NTU:

Numbers of transfer unit

PF:

Parallel flow

S/N:

Signal-to-noise

TFHE:

Three-fluid heat exchanger

TTHE:

Triple tube heat exchanger

D c :

Coil diameter, m

d c,i :

Helical tube diameter, m

f :

Friction factor

k :

Thermal conductivity, W m−1 K−1

ṁ :

Mass flow rate, kg s−1

Ns:

Entropy generation number

Pr:

Prandtl number

q′:

Heat transfer per unit length, W m−1

Re:

Reynolds number

T :

Temperature, K

µh :

Dynamic viscosity, kg m−1 s−1

ρ :

Density, Kg m−3

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Acknowledgements

This study has not been supported or funded by any organization or institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, C. V. Raman Global University, Bhubaneswar, 752054, India

    Belal Almasri & Taraprasad Mohapatra

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, 758002, India

    Sudhansu S. Mishra

Authors
  1. Belal Almasri
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  2. Taraprasad Mohapatra
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  3. Sudhansu S. Mishra
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Contributions

BA experimented on the test setup, collected and analysed the data, and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. TM contributed to the design and fabrication of the test setup and conducted overall performance optimization analysis. SSM provided expertise in critical revisions to the manuscript and assisted with data interpretation. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. This statement shows the roles and responsibilities of each author in the research process. It lists the specific contributions that each author made to the study and manuscript.

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Correspondence to Taraprasad Mohapatra.

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Almasri, B., Mohapatra, T. & Mishra, S.S. Experimental investigation and performance optimization of thermo-hydraulic and exergetic characteristics of a novel multi-fluid heat exchanger. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 14051–14068 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12594-3

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