Theoretical analysis of the thermal performance of a plate heat exchanger at various chevron angles using lithium bromide solution with nanofluid

• The performance of a lithium bromide solution with and without nanoparticles in plate heat exchanger (PHE) was investigated.
• The heat transfer rate of 60°/60° PHE is increased significantly compared to that of 30°/30° PHE.
• The heat transfer rate of 3 vol.% nanofluid increased about 3–8% compare to that of LiBr solution.
• In the 60°/60° PHE using 3 vol.% nanofluid produced the largest heat transfer rate.

Nanofluids technology has been rapidly developing over the last two decades. In this paper, the performance of a lithium bromide (LiBr) solution with and without nanoparticles in plate heat exchanger (PHE) for various chevron angles and mass flow rates was investigated. As a result, the heat transfer rate and the overall heat transfer coefficient in 60°/60° PHE is over 100% higher than that of 30°/30° PHE, and the effectiveness of the PHE in 60°/60° PHE is about 70% higher than that of 30°/30° PHE. By using nanoparticle in the working fluid, the heat transfer performance can increase significantly. The heat transfer rate of 3 vol.% nanofluids increased about 3–8% compare to that of LiBr solution for all chevron PHEs. Besides, the 60°/60° PHE using 3 vol.% nanofluids produced the largest heat transfer rate and heat exchange effectiveness under given operating conditions.