Numerical and experimental investigation for enhancing thermal performance of a concentric heat exchanger using different scenarios

PurposeHeat exchangers (HEs) which provide heat transfer and transfer energy through direct or indirect contact between fluids have an essential role in many processes as a part of various industries from pharmaceutical production to electronic devices. Using nanofluid as working fluid and integrating different types of turbulators could be used to upgrade the thermal effectiveness of HEs. Recently, to obtain more increment in thermal effectiveness, hybrid nanofluids are used that are prepared by mixing two or more various nanoparticles. The purpose of this experimental and numerical study is investigating different scenarios for improving the effectiveness of a concentric U-tube type HE. Design/methodology/approachIn the numerical section of this study, different turbulator modifications, including circular and quarter circular rings, were modeled to determine the effect of adding turbulator on thermal performance. In addition, Al2O3/water and SiO2/water single and Al2O3-SiO2/water hybrid nanofluids were experimentally tested in an unmodified concentric U-tube HE in two different modes, including counter flow and parallel flow. Al2O3-SiO2/water hybrid nanofluid was prepared at 2% (wt./wt.) particle ratio and compared with Al2O3/water and SiO2/water single type nanofluids at same particle ratios and with distilled water. FindingsNumerical modeling findings exhibited that integrating turbulators to the concentric tube type HE caused to raise in the effectiveness by improving heat transfer area. Also, experimental results indicated that using both hybrid and single type nanofluids notably upgraded the thermal performance of the concentric U-tube HE. Integrating turbulators cannot be an effective alternative in a concentric U-tube type HE with lower diameter because of raise in pressure drop. Numerically achieved findings exhibited that using quarter circular turbulators decreased pressure drop in comparison with circular turbulators. According to the experimental outcomes, using hybrid Al2O3-SiO2/water nanofluid leads to obtain more thermal performance in comparison with single type nanofluids. The highest increment in overall heat transfer coefficient of HE by using Al2O3-SiO2/water nanofluid achieved as 58.97% experimentally. Originality/valueThe overall outcomes of the current research exhibited the positive impacts of using hybrid nanofluid and integrating turbulators. In this empirical and numerical survey, numerical simulations were performed to specify the impact of applying different turbulators and hybrid nanofluid on the flow and thermal characteristics in a concentric U-tube HE. The achieved outcomes exhibited that using hybrid nanofluid can notably increase the thermal performance with negligible pressure drop in comparison with two different turbulator modifications.