Thermal Performance Evaluation of Plate-Type Heat Exchanger with Alumina–Titania Hybrid Suspensions

Abstract

This paper aims to develop models for the thermal conductivity and viscosity of hybrid nanofluids of aluminium oxide and titanium dioxide (Al2O3-TiO2). The study investigates the impact of fluid temperature (283 K–298 K) on the performance of a plate heat exchanger using Al2O3-TiO2 hybrid nanofluids with different particle volume ratios (0:5, 1:4, 2:3, 3:2, 4:1, and 5:0) prepared with a 0.1% concentration in deionised water. Experimental evaluations were conducted to assess the heat transfer rate, Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient, Prandtl number, pressure drop, and performance index. Due to the lower thermal conductivity of TiO2 nanoparticles compared to Al2O3, a rise in the TiO2 ratio decreased the heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, and heat transfer rate. Inlet temperature was found to decrease pressure drop and performance index. The Al2O3 (5:0) nanofluid demonstrated the maximum enhancement of around 16.9%, 16.9%, 3.44%, and 3.41% for the heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, heat transfer rate, and performance index, respectively. Additionally, the TiO2 (0:5) hybrid nanofluid exhibited enhancements of 0.61% and 2.3% for pressure drop and Prandtl number, respectively. The developed hybrid nanofluids enhanced the performance of the heat exchanger when used as a cold fluid.