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Experimental study of Cu–water nanofluid forced convective flow inside a louvered channel

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Abstract

Heat transfer enhancement plays a very important role for energy saving in plate-fin heat exchangers. In the present study, the influences of simultaneous utilization of a louvered plate-fin channel and copper-base deionized water nanofluid on performance of these exchangers are experimentally explored. The effects of flow rate (2–5 l/min) and nanoparticles weight fraction (0–0.4 %) on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics are determined. Experimental results indicate that the use of louvered channel instead of the plain one can improve the heat transfer performance. Likewise, addition of small amounts of copper nanoparticles to the base fluid augments the convective heat transfer coefficient remarkably. The maximum rise of 21.7 % in the convective heat transfer coefficient is observed for the 0.4 % wt nanofluid compared to the base fluid. Also, pumping power for the base fluid and nanofluids are calculated based on the measured pressure drop in the louvered channel. The average increase in pumping power is 11.8 % for the nanofluid with 0.4 % wt compared to the base fluid. Applied performance criterion shows a maximum performance index of 1.167 for the nanofluid with 0.1 % wt Finally, two correlations are proposed for Nusselt number and friction factor which fit the experimental data with in ±10 %.

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Abbreviations

A c :

Minimum free flow area (m2)

A t :

Total surface area in contact with working fluid (m2)

C p :

Specific heat (J kg−1 K−1)

D h :

Hydraulic diameter (m)

G :

Mass velocity (kg m−2 s−1)

h :

Average heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K−1)

L :

Channel length (m)

l/min:

Litter per minute (l min−1)

M :

Number of the independent variables

m :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

Q:

Convective heat transfer rate (W)

T :

Temperature (K)

P :

Pressure (Pa)

R :

Dependent variable

X :

Independent variables

ρ :

Density (kg m−3)

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (kg m−1 s−1)

κ :

Thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

φ :

Nanoparticle weight fraction

δ t :

Thermal boundary layer

BF :

Base fluid

in :

Inlet

out :

Outlet

f :

Fluid

j :

Specific parameter counter

LMTD :

Logarithmic mean temperature difference

NF :

Nanofluid

w :

Wall

f :

Fanning friction factor = ρD h ∆P/2LG 2

Nu :

Nusselt number = hD h /κ

Pr :

Prandtl number = μC p /κ

Re :

Reynolds number = GD h /μ

EEW:

Electro-exploded wire

PEC:

Performance evaluation criteria

PFHE:

Plate-fin heat exchanger

TEM:

Transmission electron microscope

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their thanks to University of Semnan and Materials and Energy Research Center for their financial supports through the set-up fabrication and research implementation. Also, the authors are grateful to Payamavaran Nanotechnology Fardanegar Company for the preparation of nanofluids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

    M. Khoshvaght-Aliabadi

  2. School of Chemical, Petroleum, and Gas Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

    F. Hormozi

  3. Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran

    A. Zamzamian

Authors
  1. M. Khoshvaght-Aliabadi
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  2. F. Hormozi
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  3. A. Zamzamian
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Correspondence to M. Khoshvaght-Aliabadi.

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Khoshvaght-Aliabadi, M., Hormozi, F. & Zamzamian, A. Experimental study of Cu–water nanofluid forced convective flow inside a louvered channel. Heat Mass Transfer 51, 423–432 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-014-1422-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-014-1422-1

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