66
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Improving hydrothermal performance of a tubular heat exchanger with different types of twisted tapes using graphene nanoplatelets/water nanofluid

ORCID Icon, & ORCID Icon
Pages 12695-12710 | Received 03 May 2023, Accepted 24 Oct 2023, Published online: 11 Nov 2023
 

ABSTRACT

A comparative experimental investigation in order to evaluate the hydrothermal characteristics of a heat exchanger tube fitted with varied types of twisted tape is performed using graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and water nanofluid. The experiment is carried out for three varied weight concentrations (ω = 0.05%, 0.075% and 0.1%) of GNP/water nanofluids flowing in a tube fitted with various twisted tapes of three different twist ratios (x/b = 3, 4 and 5) for the Reynolds number of 6700 –33,200 and a nanofluid flow rate of 5 to 25 lpm. The results showed the heat transfer rate and pressure loss increased with rising Reynolds numbers, a decrease in the twist ratio of tapes, and an increase in nanofluid concentration. The specially designed anti-clockwise clockwise twisted tape (ACCT) insert provides a 67.8% greater heat transfer coefficient than typical twisted tape. The addition of GNP nanoparticles to water has a significant impact on the increase in heat transfer rate. The best hydrothermal performance factors achieved are 2.03, 1.93, and 1.84 for ACCT tape (x/b = 3) fitted tube at Reynolds number of 26,600 for 0.1%, 0.075%, and 0.05% weight concentration of GNP/water nanofluids, respectively. Nusselt number and friction factor correlations are also established in terms of twist ratio, Reynolds number, and nanofluid concentration parameters.

Nomenclature

A=

Surface area of heat transfer (m2)

b=

Tape width (m)

cp=

Fluid specific heat capacity (J.kg−1.K−1)

D=

Tube inner diameter (m)

ƒ=

Friction factor

k=

Fluid thermal conductivity (W.m−1.K−1)

h=

Heat transfer coefficient (W.m−2.K−1)

L=

Length of test section (m)

Nu=

Nusselt number

=

Mass flow rate (Kg.s−1)

Pr=

Prandtl number

P=

Pressure (Pa)

Re=

Reynolds number

Q=

Heat rate(W)

t=

Tape thickness (m)

T=

Temperature (K)

U=

Mean velocity (m.s−1)

x=

Twist pitch of tape (m)

x/b=

Twist ratio

Greek Symbols=
µ=

Absolute viscosity (kg.m−1.s−1)

=

Exact difference

ρ=

Density (kg.m−3)

φ=

Volume concentration (%)

ω=

Weight concentration (%)

Abbreviations=
ACCT=

Anti-clockwise clockwise twisted

HEX=

Heat Exchanger

TT=

Twisted tape

lpm=

Litre per minute

TPF=

Thermal performance factor

TR=

Twist ratio

Subscripts=
bf=

Base fluid (water)

b=

Bulk

c=

Convection

f=

fluid

h=

Wall surface of tube

i=

Inlet

insert=

Insert fitted in a tube

nf=

nanofluid

o=

Outlet

p=

Nano-particles

plain=

Plain tube

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) in India for providing the necessary technical assistance to carry out this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors contribution

Bhavik V. Patel is a Ph.D. scholar in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, India. He has received an M.Tech. degree in Thermal Engineering from MANIT, Bhopal, India. He has worked on the experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer enhancement in a heat exchanger tube by suggesting novel insert and using nanofluids.

R. M. Sarviya is a Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, MANIT, Bhopal, India. He received his doctorate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India. His field of expertise includes thermal engineering, heat and mass transfer and solar energy.

S. P. S. Rajput is a Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, MANIT, Bhopal, India. His field of expertise includes refrigeration, thermal engineering, human thermal comfort, and energy conversion cycles.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 61.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.