Effect of using a ZnO-TiO2/water hybrid nanofluid on heat transfer performance and pressure drop in a flat tube with louvered finned heat exchanger

Abstract

This study used an experimental setup consisting of a flat tube with a louvered finned crossflow configuration to examine the effects of utilizing a ZnO-TiO2-water hybrid nanofluid on heat transfer rate, heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, and pressure drop. The studies were carried out under laminar flow conditions (200 < Re < 800), at four different temperatures (50, 60, 70, 80 °C), four different volume concentrations of nanoparticles (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2%), and three different volume flow rates (4, 6, 8 LPM). The findings were compared with pure water (0%). The results indicate that using hybrid nanofluid improves the heat transfer performance and increases pressure loss in comparison with pure water. When comparing hybrid nanofluid to pure water, the largest increases in heat transfer rate, heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, and pressure drop were 87.8%, 21.7%, 26.4%, and 10%, respectively. In addition, it was found that, up to a specific value (0.05%), increasing the nanoparticle volume concentration enhanced the heat transfer rate, heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number, but which began to decrease on increasing the concentration past this value. Therefore, it was concluded that nanoparticle volume concentrations greater than 0.05% negatively affect heat transfer under the current operating conditions. The maximum heat transfer rate, heat transfer coefficient, and Nusselt number were obtained under the conditions of an 8 LPM volume flow rate, 80 °C inlet temperature, and 0.05% volume concentration.