Investigation of the Effects of the Size, Shape, and Temperature of Al2O3 Nanoparticles on the Thermodynamic Analysis of Spiral Plate Heat Exchangers

Abstract

The spiral plate heat exchanger is designed as self-cleaning equipment with a low propensity for fouling. It is easily accessible for inspection and mechanical cleaning and occupies minimal space. Numerous studies have explored the use of various nanoparticles to enhance the performance of heat exchangers. This study examines the influence of Al2O3 nanoparticles' size, shape, and temperature on the thermodynamic parameters of a spiral plate heat exchanger, including the Nusselt number, overall heat transfer coefficient, Stanton, and Reynolds numbers. The findings indicate that an increase in the nanoparticle's diameter by 80 nm leads to approximately a 65% increase in the Nusselt number. It was also found that in the case of platelet-shaped nanoparticles, the Prandtl number increases by about 2.24 times as the volume fraction rises from 1% to 5%. Additionally, at a specific volume fraction, the highest Prandtl number is recorded for the platelet-shaped nanoparticle, while the lowest is noted for the spherical nanoparticle shape. The results demonstrate that the overall heat transfer coefficient increases as the nanoparticle temperature rises.