ENERGY, EXERGY, AND ECONOMIC INVESTIGATION OF INSERT-ASSISTED AND TERNARY HYBRID NANOFLUID-OPERATED HEAT EXCHANGER

The present investigation thoroughly analyzes the energy, exergy, and economic efficiency of a heat exchanger (HX) employing a ternary hybrid nanofluid (THNF) with diverse inserts. The research assesses essential characteristics like the pressure drop, friction factor, overall heat transfer coefficient, exergy efficiency, entropy generation rate, and operational costs of the heat exchanger. The results indicate that the overall heat transfer coefficient increases with a rise in the Reynolds number, with perforated twisted turbulator inserts (PTTIs) and twisted turbulator inserts (TTI) providing boosts of 7.53% and 4.69% , respectively, relative to a heat exchanger without inserts when utilizing 0.12% (v/v) THNF at the maximum Reynolds number. The friction factor diminishes as the Reynolds number rises, but it increases with the introduction of inserts, demonstrating boosts of 83.9% and 61.8% for PTTIs and TTIs, respectively. The performance index and exergy efficiency exhibit considerable enhancements at reduced Reynolds numbers with the incorporation of inserts. Nevertheless, the operational expenses are significantly higher, since PTTIs necessitate 2.13 to 2.63 times greater operating expenditures than heat exchangers without inserts utilizing water as the coolant. An HX combined with PTTIs and utilizing 0.12% (v/v) THNF is an exceedingly efficient technique for enhancing heat transport and exergy efficiency, positioning it as a formidable option for future use in compact air heat exchangers. This research highlights the necessity of combining thermal performance and economic evaluations to guide the design of advanced heat exchangers for modern industrial requirements.