2. Objective
The main objective of this project work is to study
and carry out the performance analysis in cross flow
fin type heat exchanger for non Newtonian fluids, by
conducting experiments for:
1. Determining and evaluating the performance
parameters like overall heat transfer coefficient, fin
effectiveness, surface effectiveness and exchanger
effectiveness.
2. To compare these experimentally obtained values
with the values that are obtained from various
correlations.
3. Introduction
• In cross flow plate fin type heat exchangers, the hot and cold fluids
flow in directions normal to each other, which utilizes solid plates
with fins to increase the heat transfer area and heat transfer efficiency.
• Plate fin heat exchangers form one of the main categories of compact
heat exchangers designed to pack a high heat transfer capacity into
small volume.
• It consists of a series of flat plates which is a porous matrix, usually
formed from corrugated metals, that provides a large extended heat
transfer surface.
• Fluid streams flow along the passages made by the corrugations
between the parting sheets. The corrugated sheets that are sandwiched
between the plates serve both to give extra heat transfer area and to
give structural support to the flat plates.
• This type was first developed for applications in which weight and
volume were at a premium such as in aircraft and other mobile units.
• For this reason aluminum was used as a material for construction, and
this limited their use to a maximum temperature of around 250◦C.
• Stainless steels are common as the material of construction for
compact heat exchanger operating at temperatures of up to 800oC.
4. Applications of cross flow plate-fin heat exchanger
• Cryogenics
• Aerospace
• Air conditioning
• Refrigeration
• Heat recovery
• Air heaters
• Oil coolers
• Air separation
• Ammonia gas synthesis
• Purification and liquefaction of hydrogen
5. Literature review
• On reviewing literatures and journals pertaining to the topic, it is observed
that much of the research activities carried out in this area were related to
the heat transfer to inelastic non-Newtonian fluids in laminar flow in
circular and non-circular ducts.
• In recent years, some consideration has also been given to heat transfer
to/from non-Newtonian fluids in vessels fitted with coils and jackets, but
little information is available on the operation of plate heat exchange
equipment with non-Newtonian fluids.
• Further review of literature indicated that studies were conducted in
different heat exchangers with different Newtonian and Non-Newtonian
fluids.
• Researchers were seen conducted studies in spiral heat exchanger using
non-Newtonian nanofluid (Alumina) as cold fluid at different flow rates
and the effectiveness of heat exchanger is seen increased significantly.
• Experimental investigations were seen conducted to determine the
improvement in the convective heat transfer coefficient in a plate heat
exchanger using yogurt as test fluid.
6. Literature review
Further review of literatures observed that:
• Tests were seen conduced to assess the thermal performance of CuO–water
with ϕ = 0.9% under turbulent flow conditions and the heat transfer
coefficient was higher by 15% than that of pure water.
• Investigations were carried out for the forced convective heat transfer of
the nano-fluids through a uniformly heated circular tube under turbulent
flow conditions. Results revealed that the local and average heat transfer
coefficients of nanofluid are larger than that of the base fluid.
• Forced convection heat transfer of non-Newtonian nanofluid in a circular
tube with constant wall temperature under turbulent flow conditions was
seen investigated experimentally Al2O3,TiO2 and CuO nanoparticles into
the base fluid(CMC). Results indicate that the convective heat transfer
coefficient of nanofluid is higher than that of the base fluid.
• Heat transfer coefficient of plate heat exchangers for various concentrations
of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution and with increase in mass flow
rates of both cold and hot fluids were seen conducted and the heat transfer
coefficient is observed to be increased.
7. Scope of the present work
• The main focus of this project work is to conduct a performance analysis
experimentally and to evaluate some important parameters of cross flow
plate fin type heat exchanger with non-Newtonian fluid as cold fluid.
• The parameters which are to be investigated experimentally are overall heat
transfer coefficient, fin effectiveness, surface effectiveness and exchanger
effectiveness of a cross flow plate fin type heat exchanger and to compare
results with the values that are obtained from various correlations.
• The project work is scheduled to conduct in two phases. First phase mainly
covers the process of literature review, development of methodology and
material selection for the conduct of experiment.
• Second phase covers the works of setting up of experimental setup,
carrying out the experiment analysis of the data obtained from the
experiment using MATLAB software.
• First phase is proposed to carry out during October to December 2021.
• Second phase is proposed to be carry out from January to mid of April
2022.
8. Methodology
• Performance analysis of cross flow fin type plate heat exchanger is
proposed to carry out experimentally using different cold fluids as follows :
• Water-water system: Hot water or steam is allowed to pass through hot
fluid circuit and cold water is allowed to pass through cold fluid circuit.
Inlet and outlet temperatures of both hot and cold fluids will be recorded at
different cold fluid flow rates.
• Water- Non-Newtonian fluid system: Hot water or steam is allowed to pass
through hot fluid circuit and a selected Non-Newtonian fluid is allowed to
pass through cold fluid circuit. Inlet and outlet temperatures of both hot and
cold fluids will be recorded at different cold fluid flow rates and at different
concentrations.
• Same will be repeated for different Non-Newtonian fluids under
consideration.
• The experimental data so obtained is proposed to be analyzed using
MATLAB software.
• Artificial Neural Network in MATALAB will be applied to predict the
Nusselt number of the cold (Non-Newtonian) fluid.
9. Material selection
For Cold fluid:
• Base fluids proposed to be used in this investigation are
Non- Newtonian fluids
1. Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose - CMC (C8H15NaO8)
2. Sodium Alginate (C6H8O6)n
For heat exchanger:
• The material used for plate heat exchanger for conducting
the experiment is proposed to be Aluminum.
• Fins are of triangular type
11. Results and discussion
• Final result of this project work will be
obtained after the experimental analysis which
would be conducted in phase 2 of the project.
• The works so far carried out pertaining to the
subject such as title of the project work,
literature review, methodology to be adopted
and material selection is in full faith and
confidence so as to enable to fulfill the
objective of the study.
12. Conclusion
The topic ‘performance analysis in cross flow plate fin type heat
exchanger' has been selected based on its present importance in the
thermal engineering field. Review has been conducted using
different literatures and journals to know the studies that have been
conducted so far on the subject. Based on the review of literatures
related to the project work, it is seen that more studies are yet to be
conducted using a non-Newtonian fluid as cold fluid in a cross flow
plate fin type heat exchanger. As such this is a novel idea and the
results that would be obtained after the study is expected to yield a
favorable result the impact of which would result in the better
performance of heat exchangers. Material selection, methods to be
adopted in experimental analysis and methodology to be adopted are
done accordingly.
13. Future work to be done
• Building up of experimental set up.
• Conducting experiments using Non-Newtonian
fluid.
• Data collection from experimental results.
• Performance analysis using experimental data
and with necessary software.
• Final Project report.
14. Time chart for Project work
Performance analysis of cross flow plate fin type heat exchanger for Non-Newtonian Fluids
PROJECT TASKS
(Oct-2021 to Apr-2022)
OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
Objective of the project
Literature review
Methodology
Material selection for heat
exchanger
Material selection for Cold
fluid
Experimental setup &
experimental Procedures
Performance Analysis using
experimental data and with
MATLAB software
Final Project Report
Phase 1 (Completed) Phase 2 (To be completed)
Status of Project Tasks :
15. References
(1) Shah R K and London A L,1978, Advances in heat transfer in laminar flow, forced
convection in ducts, Academic press New York.
(2) Al-Dawery S.K.,2012, Dynamic modeling and control of plate heat exchanger.
(3) Duangthongsuk and Wong wises, 2009, Heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop
characteristics of TiO2–water nanofluid in a double-tube counter flow heat exchanger
(4) Hojjat, M. et al, 2010, Laminar heat transfer of non-Newtonian nanofluids in a circular
tube.
(5) Heris et al, 2011, Numerical Study on Convective Heat Transfer of AL2O3/Water,
CuO/Water and Cu/Water Nanofluids through Square Cross-Section Duct in Laminar
Flow.
(6) Li and Peterson, 2007, Mixing effect on the enhancement of the effective thermal
conductivity of nanoparticle suspensions (nanofluids).
(7) Madrood, M. R. K., Etemad, S. G., Bagheri.R, 2011, Free convection heat transfer of
non Newtonian nanofluids under constant heat flux condition.
(8) Manfred Morari et al, 1988, Model predictive control: Theory and practice.
(9) Moraveji et al, 2012, Modeling of forced convective heat transfer of a non-Newtonian
nanofluid in the horizontal tube under constant heat flux with computational fluid
dynamics.
(10) Mohammad Hojjat et al, 2010, Laminar heat transfer of non-Newtonian nanofluids in a
circular tube.
(11) Karuppannan Muthamizhi & Ponnusamy Kalaichelvi, 2015, Development of Nusselt
number correlation using dimensional analysis for plate heat exchanger with a
carboxymethyl cellulose solution.
