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Numerical study of heat transfer, exergy efficiency, and friction factor with nanofluids in a plate heat exchanger

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Abstract

In this study, the performance of a plate heat exchanger is investigated numerically using tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles with water. By employing novel nanoparticle materials (WC) instead of traditional fluids in a plate heat exchanger, it is required to enhance heat transfer. The effect of the mass concentration of nanofluid on the hot side on various parameters such as Nusselt number, friction factor, exergy efficiency temperature, velocity, and pressure distribution is analyzed with Reynolds number range from 3240 to 8840. The obtained results are validated with the previous experimental findings. The results show that increasing the Reynolds number and nanofluid mass concentration can enhance the Nusselt number. WC-water nanofluid with 0.4 mass% achieved the maximum Nusselt number ratio with the range of 166–191%. The friction factor decreased by increasing the Reynolds number where the lowest friction factor with values ranging from 0.17 to 0.33 is achieved by 0.4 mass% nanofluids concentration. The maximum exergy efficiency ranging from 49.5 to 64.5 is achieved by WC-water nanofluid with 0.4 mass%. The streamlines and contours of the temperature, velocity, and pressure distribution provide credible interpretations for the movements of WC-water nanofluids and a noticed improvement in heat transfer.

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Data will be made available on request.

Abbreviations

A :

Surface area, m2

m :

Mass flow rate, kg s−1

D h :

Hydraulic diameter, m

T :

Temperature, °C

G :

Gravity acceleration, m s−2

Cp:

Specific heat, J kg−1 K−1

l :

Plate length, m

Q :

Heat transfer rate, W

Gk:

Eddy viscosity

P :

Pressure, Pa

U :

Overall heat transfer coefficient, J kg−1 K−1 J kg−1 W m−2 K−1

V :

Velocity, m s−1

T surr :

Surrounding temperature

W :

Plate width, m

Β :

Corrugation angle

t :

Corrugation pitch, m

Nu:

Nusselt number

N :

Corrugated plate number

Pr:

Prandtl number

H :

Heat transfer coefficient, J kg−1

T o :

Ambient temperature

Re:

Reynolds number

S :

Entropy, J kg−1 K−1

f :

Friction factor

K :

Thermal conductivity, W m−1 K−1

Re:

Reynolds number

h :

Heat transfer coefficient, J kg−1 K−1

NF:

Nanofluids

Out:

Out

In:

In

Ave:

Average

C:

Cold water

ΔP :

Pressure drop, Pa

µ :

Viscosity, N s m−2

ϕ :

Volume concentration

\(\rho \) :

Density, kg m−3

PHE:

Plate heat exchanger

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

WC:

Tungsten carbide

MWCNT:

Multiwalled carbon nanotube

LMTD:

Logarithmic mean temperature difference

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R515), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for funding this research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33511, Egypt

    S. A. Marzouk

  2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, 11952, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmad Aljabr

  3. Muzahimiyah Branch, Department of Applied Mechanical Engineering, College of Applied Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, 11421, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Fahad Awjah Almehmadi

  4. Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University, P.O. Box 1988, 61441, Najran, Saudi Arabia

    Saeed Alqaed

  5. Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, Egypt

    Maisa A. Sharaf

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  1. S. A. Marzouk
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Marzouk, S.A., Aljabr, A., Almehmadi, F.A. et al. Numerical study of heat transfer, exergy efficiency, and friction factor with nanofluids in a plate heat exchanger. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 11269–11281 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12441-5

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