Statistical Analysis of Nanofluid Heat Transfer in a Heat Exchanger using Taguchi Method

In this study, a statistical experimental design method (the Taguchi method with L۹ orthogonal array robust design) was performed to optimize experimental conditions such that to maximize the Nusselt number of Al۲O۳-water nanofluids in a double tube counter flow heat exchanger. The controllable factors were selected at three sets of conditions including temperature (۴۵, ۵۵, and ۶۵℃), concentration (۰, ۰.۰۵, and ۰.۱۵ vol.%), and flow rate (۷, ۹, and ۱۱ l/min) of the nanofluid. Analysis of the obtained results revealed that the flow rate plays a key role in the Nusselt number of nanofluid with ۶۳.۵۴۱%. The optimal levels were defined for the three factors including the nanofluid concentration of ۰.۱۵ vol.%, the nanofluid temperature of ۶۵℃,and the nanofluid flow rate of ۱۱ l/min. The predicted Nusselt number of nanofluid under these conditions was ۳۲۲.۶۳۳. The confirmation test was also performed at the optimal conditions, by which good consistency was found between the experimental and the predicted results.

کلیدواژه ها:

Taguchi method ، Nanofluid ، Nusselt number ، Heat exchanger