Review on Contemporary Heat Transfer Enhancement Technologies in Conventional Heat Exchangers

Abstract

This review examines modern approaches for improving heat transfer in heat exchangers, focusing
on findings from 52 recent research papers. The strategies presented include nanofluids, surface
modification techniques, the use of extended surfaces, and novel design combinations. Nanofluids,
which contain nanoparticles such as Al2O3, CuO, and TiO2, have higher thermal characteristics and
greatly improve heat transfer efficiency over ordinary fluids. Surface changes, such as laser
texturing, electrochemical deposition, and hydrophobic coatings, significantly reduce fouling while
increasing boiling heat transfer. Extended surfaces with a variety of fin designs, including louvered,
wavy, and helical fins, improve turbulence and thermal performance. Machine learning algorithms,
genetic algorithms, and multi-objective optimization frameworks are examples of emerging
technologies that improve heat exchanger performance under a variety of scenarios. Phase change
and piezoelectric materials present innovative thermal management strategies. The existing review
paper lacks individual enhancement methods, making it difficult to compare knowledge across
categories. Moreover, recent innovations like hybrid nanofluids, fractal/biomorphic designs, surface
modification techniques were missing in earlier reviews. This review highlights the significance of
combining material science, surface engineering, and computational methodologies to improve heat
exchanger efficiency and operational effectiveness.