ABSTRACT
The thermo-hydraulic performance of a three-fluid heat exchanger (TFHE) to concurrently transfer heat from a heated nanofluid to ordinary water and air is the subject of investigation in this paper. The fluid flow and heat transfer abilities of the TFHE concerning changes in nanofluid (Al2O3-water, CuO-water, Fe2O3-water) are used to quantify effectiveness and pressure drop. Parametric studies having nanofluid volume fraction (1%, 5%, and 10%), flow rate (100LPH, 150LPH, and 200LPH), and inlet temperature (80°C, 120°C, and 160°C) respectively are considered in the present experimentation. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the use of CuO-water nanofluid at an intake temperature of 160°C and 5% volume percentage led to a considerable improvement in heat transfer effectiveness, with a maximum value of 0.884. At a flow rate of 100 LPH, a volume percentage of 1%, and an inlet temperature of 160°C, the Al2O3-water nanofluid exhibits the least amount of pressure loss. Nine test runs with four control factors are conducted using Taguchi’s experiment design. From Taguchi analysis, it is observed that the nanofluid volume flow rate and nanofluid inlet temperature have the largest and lowest contributions of 68.83%, 3.76%, and 72.05%, 2.03% respectively on heat transfer effectiveness and pressure drop of the TFHE. A multi-response optimization is carried out using the Taguchi-Gray Analysis to determine the least pressure drop and the highest possible heat transfer effectiveness. At 1% volume fraction, 100 LPH volume flow rate, and 160°C intake temperature, Al2O3-water nanofluids show an increase in the total performance of the TFHE of 10.39%.
Nomenclature
Parameters | = | |
∆p | = | Pressure drop |
n | = | Number of experiment repeats |
Q | = | Volume flow rate of nanofluids |
Tin | = | Nanofluids inlet temperature |
yi | = | Output response value |
Subscripts | = | |
e | = | Total number of responses |
i | = | Denotes a specific instance or measurement |
I | = | Total number of experiments |
max | = | Represents the maximum value in a given set |
min | = | Represents the minimum value in a given set |
n | = | Denotes normal water |
Abbreviations | = | |
ANOVA | = | Analysis of variance |
CCD | = | Central composite design |
CFD | = | Computational fluid dynamics |
DOE | = | Design of experiments |
FEM | = | Finite element method |
GRA | = | Grey relational analysis |
GRC | = | Grey relational coefficient |
GRG | = | Grey relational grade |
HVAC | = | Heating, ventilation and air conditioning |
LPH | = | Litres per hour |
LPM | = | Litres per minute |
PCM | = | Phase change material |
RSM | = | Response surface methodology |
S/N | = | Signal to noise ratio |
SEM | = | Scanning electron microscope |
TGA | = | Taguchi Grey Analysis |
TEM | = | Transmission Electron Microscopy |
TFHE | = | Three-fluid heat exchanger |
Greek Symbols | = | |
δ | = | Denotes difference between the highest and least S/N ratio for a given control factor. |
ε | = | Heat transfer efficiency |
ζ | = | Identification coefficient |
ξ | = | Grey relational coefficient (GRC) |
φ | = | Volume fraction of nanofluids |
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Asish Sarangi
Asish Sarangi is a doctoral candidate in the School of Mechanical Sciences at Odisha University of Technology and Research, located in Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. His research focuses on renewable energy systems, heat exchangers, computational fluid dynamics, and nanofluids. He is actively engaged in exploring innovative approaches to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in engineering applications.
Taraprasad Mohapatra
Dr. Taraprasad Mohapatra is working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, C.V. Raman Global University, Bhubaneswar, India. He completed his B.Tech and M.Tech from the Biju Patnaik University of Technology, India in 2005 and 2011. He received his PhD from the International Institute of Information Technology, Bhubaneswar, India in 2019. His recent research interests include heat exchanger analysis, solar thermal applications, and biofuels.
Sudhansu S. Mishra
Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, Odisha. He received his PhD degree from C V Raman Global University, Bhubaneswar. His current research interests are Biofuel, Nanotechnology, Multi-Fluid Heat exchangers, Combustion, and Optimization.
Sudhansu S. Sahoo
Dr. Sudhansu S. Sahoo completed his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from UCE Burla in 2000 followed by M.Tech in Thermal Engineering from IIT Delhi in the year 2003 through GATE. He joined as an Assistant Professor at CET Bhubaneswar in 2006. Under QIP sponsored by MHRD, he completed his PhD from IIT Bombay in the year 2013 having Renewable energy specialization. He was carrying out a modeling simulation study of the LFR solar thermal system as part of his PhD work. He was the recipient of the prestigious Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy (BASE) Fellowship Program-2017, sponsored by The Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). His research interests include Solar thermal, CFD, Multiphase flow, Turbo-machinery, Energy-exergy-economics analysis, etc. Currently, he is serving as an Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical Sciences of Odisha University of Technology and Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Ramesh K. Mallik
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Mallik is presently working as a Professor in the School of Mechanical Sciences of Odisha University of Technology and Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. After completing of his B.E. from REC Rourkela, he completed his M.Tech from UCE Burla, followed by PhD from Jadavpur University. He has more than 25 years of teaching experience to date. His research interests are Heat Transfer Modeling, CFD, Renewable Energy.