Efficacy of SiO2 nanofluids in a miniature plate heat exchanger with undulated surface

• We studied experimentally and numerically a PHE for miniature applications.
• Low-cost SiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in water were used as working liquids.
• The 1% v/v SiO2 nanofluid enhances heat transfer up to 35% compared to water.
• The proposed design equations can predict heat transfer rate and pressure drop.

In a variety of applications, there is a clear need for an efficient and reliable heat management of high heat flux densities. In this study a miniature Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) with modulated surface along with nanofluids used as working liquids is proposed aiming for a more compact and efficient cooling equipment for low-temperature applications. The suggested working fluid is a nanofluid, i.e. a 1% v/v aqueous dispersion of SiO2 nanoparticles, which we have proved that can enhance heat transfer rate up to 35% compared to water. Relevant CFD simulations, also conducted during this study, have shown that for a given operating temperature less cooling liquid and consequently less pumping power is needed when this nanofluid is used instead of water. As the SiO2 nanoparticles are relatively inexpensive and their nanofluids are easy to prepare, their use appears to be an attractive solution for mini-scale devices or low-power applications.