Study the hydro and thermal performance of microchannel heat exchanger with hybrid suspension of nanoparticles and MEPCM particles

Abstract

       This paper aims to study the flow and heat transfer of hybrid suspension in counter flow micro channel heat exchanger (CFMCHE). In order to enhance the thermal properties of micro encapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) suspension. The hybrid suspension studied in this paper consists of nanoparticles and MEPCM particles, these particles are suspended in water as abase fluid, two types of hybrid suspension are used (Cu + MEPCM suspension) and (Al₂O₃+ MEPCM suspension) by n-octadecane as a PCM for both of them. The hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics of thes suspensions flow in micro channels of CFMCHE is numerically investigated. From obtained results, using of hybrid suspensions as a cooling fluid lead to modify thermal performance of a CFMCHE by increase its effectiveness but it also lead to high increasing in pressure drop. The results showed considerable enhancement in cooling effectiveness of (Al₂O₃ + MEPCM suspension) above of the pure PCM suspension, Nanofluids, and water. While (Cu + MEPCM suspension) showed enhancement above of the pure PCM suspension and water, but was not best effectiveness than Nanofluids. Extra increase in pressure drop in both types of hybrid suspension above are leads to reduce the overall performance compared with pure PCM suspension. Therefore its use depends on the application at which this heat exchanger is employed