Straight Microchannel Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger and Influence of Nanoparticle Shapes of Boehmite Alumina on Thermal Performance

Abstract

In a Straight Microchannel Printed Circuit heat exchanger, the second law of thermodynamics is used to compare the thermal performance of different shapes of Boehmite Alumina to Al2O3 aluminium oxide. The various forms of non-spherical Boehmite Alumina are dynamically and thermodynamically characterised using empirical coefficients for dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity. Platelet, cylindrical, blades, and bricks are examples of non-spherical shapes. Thermal efficiency, thermal irreversibility, heat transfer rate, and nanofluid exit temperature are all represented graphically. When fluid flow rates and nanoparticle fractions vary, the non-spherical shapes of Boehmite Alumina exhibit different thermal properties than the spherical shape.  Furthermore, it was theoretically demonstrated that non-spherical particles have higher heat transfer rates than spherical particles, emphasizing platelets and cylindrical shapes for the low volume fraction of nanoparticles and bricks and blades for high volume fraction. The efficiency and irreversibility defined based on the second law of thermodynamics provide a new path for heat exchangers design and make performance analysis more straightforward and elegant.