Performance Investigation of a Plate Heat Exchanger Using Nanofluid with Different Chevron Angle

Abstract

Plate heat exchanger with chevron angle has higher heat transfer area than flat type and increases the level of turbulent due to its corrugated channel. In this study, both water and nanofluid were used to determine the heat transfer coefficient and rate, pumping power, and pressure drop. A commercial plate heat exchanger with two different symmetric (30 0 /30 0 , 60 0 /60 0 ) and one mixed (30 0 /60 0 ) chevron angle plates were considered for analysis. Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 nanoparticles with 0-1 vol. % concentration were used with water. From the analysis it was found that, convective heat transfer coefficient, heat transfer rate, pressure drop and pumping power increases with the increase of volume concentration. Moreover, the above parameters were found to be higher for 60 0 /60 0 chevron angle plates. A correlation of Nusselt number as a function of Reynolds number and Prandtl number for different chevron angles needs to be obtained based on experimental and analytical work. Nomenclature