Theoretical analysis of thermal performance in a plate type liquid heat exchanger using various nanofluids based on LiBr solution

Thermal properties of nanofluids containing nano-sized particles in the working fluid are superior to base fluid. In this study, the performance of a plate heat exchanger (PHX), with chevron angles 30°/30° and 60°/60°, is analyzed with various nanofluids based on LiBr solution as working fluid. The performance of the chevron PHX was analyzed with hot-side fluid mass flow rate, the overall heat transfer coefficient, effectiveness, and rate of the heat transfer were calculated. As a result, the performance was improved in the order of Fe2O3, CuO, Al2O3, TiO2, ZnO, SiO2, CNT, sequentially, at same volume concentration. The performance improvement of PHX was similar for both Fe2O3 and CuO nanofluid because their thermal properties are similar. Besides, the effect of performance improvement by nanofluids remarkably appeared in a 30°/30° chevron angle PHX. Considering the limitation concentration of dispersion stability for various nanofluids, the PHX performance improvement was in the order of Al2O3, TiO2, Fe2O3, CuO, CNT, SiO2. To improve chevron PHX performance, Al2O3 or TiO2 nanofluids have added advantages over other nanofluids.