Evaluation of γ-Al۲O۳/n-decane Nanofluid Performance in Shell and Tube Heat Recovery Exchanger in a Biomass Heating Plant

The performance of a γ-Al۲O۳/n-decane nanofluid shell-and-tube heat exchanger in a biomass heating plant is analyzed to specify the optimum condition based on the maximum heat transfer rate and performance index for wide range of nanoparticle volume fraction (۰–۷%). Compared with pure          n-decane, the obtained results in this research show that by using γ-Al۲O۳/n-decane nanofluid as coolant at optimum values of particle volume concentration for maximum heat transfer rate (ϕ=۰.۰۲۱) and for maximum performance index (ϕ=۰.۰۰۶), the heat transfer rate and pumping power increased by ۱۰.۸۴%, ۱۳.۱۸% and ۶.۷۲%, ۲.۳%, respectively. Increasing particles concentration raises the fluid viscosity, decreases the Reynolds number and consequently decreases the heat transfer coefficient. As a result, determining the optimum value of the particle volume fraction of nanofluid as the working fluid, can improve the performance of shell-and-tube heat exchangers. 

Keywords:

heat transfer , Nanofluid , pressure drop , Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger