Numerical study of heat transfer, exergy efficiency, and friction factor with nanofluids in a plate heat exchanger

In this study, the performance of a plate heat exchanger is investigated numerically using tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles with water. By employing novel nanoparticle materials (WC) instead of traditional fluids in a plate heat exchanger, it is required to enhance heat transfer. The effect of the mass concentration of nanofluid on the hot side on various parameters such as Nusselt number, friction factor, exergy efficiency temperature, velocity, and pressure distribution is analyzed with Reynolds number range from 3240 to 8840. The obtained results are validated with the previous experimental findings. The results show that increasing the Reynolds number and nanofluid mass concentration can enhance the Nusselt number. WC-water nanofluid with 0.4 mass% achieved the maximum Nusselt number ratio with the range of 166–191%. The friction factor decreased by increasing the Reynolds number where the lowest friction factor with values ranging from 0.17 to 0.33 is achieved by 0.4 mass% nanofluids concentration. The maximum exergy efficiency ranging from 49.5 to 64.5 is achieved by WC-water nanofluid with 0.4 mass%. The streamlines and contours of the temperature, velocity, and pressure distribution provide credible interpretations for the movements of WC-water nanofluids and a noticed improvement in heat transfer.