The Effect of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Polymer fins in Compact Heat Exchanger

Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer composites have shown great potential for the fabrication of compact fins-and-tube heat exchangers due to their excellent thermal and mechanical properties. The incorporation of 2% CNTs into the polymer matrix significantly enhances thermal conductivity and m...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alshameri, M. H., Azizuddin, Abd Aziz, Azim, Arshad, Sadeq, Safwan
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Language:English
Published: Institute of Physics 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45584/
Description
Summary:Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer composites have shown great potential for the fabrication of compact fins-and-tube heat exchangers due to their excellent thermal and mechanical properties. The incorporation of 2% CNTs into the polymer matrix significantly enhances thermal conductivity and mechanical strength. Experimental results demonstrate a notable improvement in heat dissipation efficiency, with an overall heat transfer coefficient enhancement of up to 16%. The fins, measuring 120 mm wide, 120 mm long, and 2 mm thick, were successfully constructed and tested, resulting in a peak local heat transfer coefficient of 183.83 W/m²·°C. These findings suggest that CNT reinforced polymer fins can effectively serve as lightweight, corrosion-resistant alternatives to traditional metallic fins in heat exchanger applications.