Entropy generation minimization for different types of heat exchangers using nanofluids

In recent years, many engineers and researchers have tried to improve the thermal performance of heat exchangers. Heat exchanger efficiency may be improved using a variety of technologies. For decades, efforts have been made by researchers to increase heat transfer in heat exchangers, shorten the time it takes for heat to exchange, and improve system performance. Despite the importance of fins in increasing heat transfer, they make the heat exchanger of great weight and size, which is one of its disadvantages. Changes in flow shape, boundary conditions, or the fluid's thermal conductivity can all help posativily improve heat transfer by convection. Many strategies have been proposed to enhance the fluids' ability to transmit heat. The usage of nanofluilds are one of the strategies. Nanofluids have different heat transfer potentials in different applications. This study used different volume concentrations (%wt 0.1-0.2-0.3) of 〖SiO〗_2/Water nanofluids with shell and tube, plate, and double-pipe heat exchangers to improve their performance and reduce entropy generation. For each heat exchanger, heat transfer and entropy generation minimization calculations were made within the scope of experimental parameters. In the study, the total heat transfer coefficient, efficiency, number of transfer units and entropy production were calculated. Response Surface Method (RSM) was used to determine the effect levels of the parameters. The results are compared to water when the 〖SiO〗_2/Water nanofluid is used; it has been shown that entropy can be reduced by 56.50% for the plate heat exchanger, 51.70% for the shell and tube heat exchanger, and 39.32% for the concentric heat exchanger.