Analyzing How the ZrO2 Far Infrared Material Affects the Performance of Smooth Tube Heat Exchangers

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the 100 nm ZrO2 far infrared material on the heat exchange efficiency of smooth tube heat exchangers.

In the experiments designed for this purpose, the ZrO2 powder and water based acrylic paint were mixed separately using a two-step mixing method and the mixture samples were sprayed, respectively, onto heat exchangers for testing their heat exchange efficiency under stable ambient conditions.

Results from the experiments showed 31.8% and 21.5% increases in heat transfer in the heat exchanger sprayed with 7.5 wt.% ZrO2 powder and with inlet water temperatures at 45°C and 55°C relative to the heat exchanger sprayed with 0 wt.% acrylic paint and 26.4% and 18.9% increases in heat transfer relative to the heat exchanger not sprayed with acrylic paint.

The experiments also verified that heat could be transferred through radiation.

The additive ZrO2 nanopowder in these experiments is proven to be able to improve the efficiency of heat exchangers through radiation, thereby increasing the feasibility of its application in practice.