Heat transfer performance and friction factor of various nanofluids in a double-tube counter flow heat exchanger

Experimental research was conducted to reveal the effects of nanofluids on heat transfer performance in a double-tube heat exchanger. With nanoparticle weight fraction of 0.5-2.0% and Reynolds number of 4500-14500, the flow resistance and heat transfer were analyzed by using six nanofluids, i.e., CuO-water, Al₂O₃-water, Fe₃O₄-water, ZnO-water, SiC-water, SiO₂-water nanofluids. Results show that SiC-water nanofluid with a weight concentration of 1.5% provides the best improvement of heat transfer performance. 1.0% CuO-water and 0.5% SiO₂-water nanofluids have lower friction factors in the range of Reynolds number from 4500-14500 compared to the other nanofluids. Based on test results of heat transfer performance and flow resistance, the 1.0% CuO-water nanofluid shows a great advantage due to a relatively high heat transfer performance and a low friction factor. Finally, empirical formulae of Nusselt numbers for various nanofluids were established based on experimental data tested in the double-tube heat exchanger.