Heat transfer enhancement analysis using TiO2-water nanofluid in shell and tube heat exchanger with doughnut and flower segmental baffles.

Owing to the vital role of heat exchangers in process industries, several researchers have shown interest in enhancing its performance. In recent decades, Nano fluids are emerging to expand the thermal efficiency of heat exchangers on top of base fluids. This research focuses on enhancement of the heat transfer of the shell and tube heat exchanger equipped with flower and doughnut baffles using TiO₂-water nanofluid. The properties of Heat Transfer of TiO₂-Water Nanofluid was studied with flower and doughnut baffles equipped in shell and tube heat exchanger for various flow conditions and the comparison was made with base fluid. In the shell and tube heat exchanger, water based TiO₂ nanofluid with 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2% volume fractions were used as working fluids for different flowrates of nanofluids. The temperature of the hot fluid was also varied as 60°C, 70°C and 80°C to study its influence on heat transfer rate. The result shows, the overall heat transfer coefficient increased by enlarging the percentage volume concentration of TiO₂-water nanofluid and the hot fluid temperature. It is observed that TiO₂-water nanofluid contributes more than water to the thermal performance of shell and tube heat exchangers using flower and doughnut baffles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]