Experimental study of nanofluid effects on heat transfer in closed cycle system in shell and tube heat exchangers at Isfahan power plant

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The present study investigated the effect of distilled-water/ silver nanofluid on heat transfer in a closed cooling system of one of the electrical energy generation units at Isfahan power plant. The difference between this study and previous researches refers to silver properties which have a high thermal conductivity and is non-toxic, hydrophilic and eco-friendly. Distilled water/ silver nanofluid with 20 nm average diameter and 0.1% volume fraction was purchased from Iranian nanomaterials’ Pishgaman company. The volume fractions 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075% were prepared in the laboratory and thermophysical properties were practically measured in the laboratory. Nanofluids with flow rates from 0.14 to 0.26 kg/s and volume fraction from 0.01% to 0.1% passed through the tubes of heat exchanger and were evaluated in the Reynolds number range of 1500 to 4000. This study was aimed to achieve the overall heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop of the system. According to the system performance index, the results showed that nanofluid can be used to increase the efficiency of heat exchangers and, as an appropriate method, to reduce the dimensions of the exchangers. The results showed that nanofluid increased heat transfer coefficient by 16%. Pressure drop of nanofluid, however, have no significant change compared with the pressure drop of pure water.