Characterization of Al₂O₃/Water Nanofluid through Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers over Parallel and Counter Flow

Nanotechnology has become one of the fastest growing scientific and engineering disciplines. Nano fluids have been established to possess enhanced thermal and physical properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, viscosity and convective heat transfer coefficients. The aim of this research article is to analyze the overall heat transfer coefficient by doing an experimental investigation on the convective heat transfer and flow characteristics of a nano fluid. In this research, an attempt was made for the nano fluid consisting of water and 1% volume concentration of Al₂O₃/water Nano fluid flowing in a parallel flow, counter flow in shell and tube heat exchanger under laminar flow condition. The 50nm diameter Al₂O₃nanoparticles are used in this investigation and was found that the overall heat transfer coefficient and convective heat transfer coefficient of nano fluid to be slightly higher than that of the base liquid at same mass flow rate and inlet temperature. Three samples of dissimilar mass flow rates have been identified for conducting the experiments and their results are continuously monitored and reported. The experimental analysis results were concluded that the heat transfer and overall heat transfer coefficient enhancement is possible with increase in the mass flow rate of fluid and Al₂O₃/water nano fluid on a comparative basis.