Synergistic effects of trihybrid nanofluid on thermal performance in a parallel plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The study investigates the thermal performance and efficiency of a 3-chambered parallel plate heat exchanger (PPHE) enhanced with an innovative cold tri-hybrid nanofluid. This advanced tri-hybrid nanofluid comprises graphene (G), silver (Ag), and gold (Au) nanoparticles suspended in a 50:50 mixture of distilled water (DW) and ethylene glycol (EG). The tri-hybrid nanofluid is employed in the upper and lower pipes of the heat exchanger, while heated oil flows through the center pipe. Using a numerical approach, the finite element method (FEM) is employed to solve the mathematical equations and simulate the thermal behavior of the heat exchanger (HE) under numerous working conditions. The simulation results are depicted through detailed plots illustrating surface velocity, surface temperature, streamlines, isotherm lines, and surface pressure. These visualizations demonstrate the dynamic changes in temperature and velocity distributions along the counter-flow heat exchanger. It evaluates critical performance metrics, including heat transfer (HT) efficiency, HT rate per unit of pumping power, and the overall HE performance index. These assessments offer valuable insights into the potential benefits of employing tri-hybrid nanofluids in heat exchanger systems, emphasizing enhanced heat energy. The optimized Nusselt number (Nu) shows improvements of approximately 70% and 13% for increasing Reynolds number (Re = 2-50) and nanoparticle concentration (  = 0-0.03), respectively, indicating enhanced thermal conductivity and HT efficiency with higher nanoparticle concentration.  The total pressure drop increases by about 0.76% at  = 0.01, with Re varying from 2 to 50, indicating a balance between HT and pressure drop. Additionally, the present study demonstrates up to a 20% higher performance index at lower Re values than reported by Hasan et al. [7], highlighting the effectiveness of the tri-hybrid nanofluid in enhancing HE performance. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the application of advanced nanofluids in industrial HT systems. By exploring the unique properties and advantages of tri-hybrid nanofluids, this research aims to inform future design and optimization of heat exchangers, ultimately supporting advancements in energy-efficient technologies and industrial processes.

Journal of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, 23(2), 2026, PP. 161-182