Thermohydraulic analysis of twisted tape inserts with SiO_2/H_2 O nanofluid in heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

In this work the effect of geometrical parameters of the twisted tape insert on heat transfer and flow characteristics of $Si{O}_2/H_{2}O$ nanofluid flow heat exchanger tube has been investigated experimentally and numerically using CFD (ANSYS 19.3). The investigation encompassed the nanofluid and geometrical parameters namely twisted-tape-width-to-tube-diameter ratio $\left(W_T/D_T\right)$ ranging from 0.6–0.8, twisted-tape-length-to-twisted-tape-width ratio $\left(L_T/D_T\right)$ ranging from 1.56–2.23 and particle concentration $\left(\varphi \right)$ ranging from 0.50 vol%-1.25 vol% and the average size of nanoparticle diameter $\left(d_{np}\right)$ is 30 nm. The analysis of twisted tape parameters and $Si{O}_2/H_{2}O$ nanofluid as the medium has been carried out for Reynolds number in the range of 5000–17,000. The maximum Nusselt number $\left(N{u}_{TT}\right)$ and friction factor $\left(f_{TT}\right)$ enhancement are found to be 2.03 and 2.41 times, respectively. The maximum values of thermohydraulic performance parameter occur at a $W_T/D_T$ of 0.8, $L_T/D_T$ of 1.74, $\varphi$ of 1.25 vol%, $d_{np}$ of 30 nm and Reynolds number $\left(R{e}_n\right)$ of 11,000.

KEYWORDS:

• Twisted tape
• heat exchanger tube
• nanofluid
• heat transfer
• thermos-hydraulic performance

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anil Kumar

Anil Kumar is Faculty at University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India. He recieved his Doctoral degree in Thermofluid engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India in 2013 and two years as a Post Doctoral Fellow at the school of Mechanical Engineering from Kyungpook National University, South Korea. His research interest are heat transfer, solar energy and nanofluids.

Sachin Sharma

Sachin Sharma is Faculty at University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India. He is an enthusiastic researcher in the domain of renewable energy, heat transfer enhancement techniques and optimization techniques.

Sunil Kumar

Sunil Kumar is Faculty at Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Shoolini University, Solan, India. Having keen interest in the Fuzzy logic, nanofluid, and optimization techniques.

Rajesh Maithani

Rajesh Maithani is Faculty at University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India. He recieved his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from Uttarakhand Technical University, Dehradun. His research interests include solar thermal systems, heat transfer and renewable energy.