Heat transfer enhancement using hybrid nanofluids in spiral plate heat exchangers

A possible way to enhance the rate of heat transfer in the spiral plate heat exchanger (SPHE) is by employing hybrid nanofluids as its working medium. Hence, in the present work, effects of hybrid nanofluids on the thermal performance of SPHE has been investigated numerically. First, a countercurrent SPHE is designed and modeled. Later, simulation of SPHE has been carried out by employing conventional fluid (H2O), nanofluids (Al2O3)/H2O,CuO/H2O,TiO2/H2O), and hybrid nanofluids (Al2O3+CuO/H2O,Al2O3+TiO2/H2O) to investigate the heat transfer rates. Finally, the performance of SPHE using hybrid nanofluid is compared with that of using water and nanofluids. The heat transfer augmentation of approximately 16%-27% with hybrid nanofluids of overall 4% nanoparticles volume concentration and 10%-16% with 2% nanoparticles volume concentration is observed when compared with that of pure water. Therefore, it can be inferred that the application of hybrid nanofluids in SPHE seems to be one of the promising solutions for augmentation of its thermal performance.