Performance Analysis of a Solarassisted Air Conditioning System in Different Climatic Zones of Libya

Abstract

The present study investigates advanced heat transfer enhancement techniques in tubular heat exchangers through the integration of novel ring geometries, passive flow inserts, and optimized nanofluid formulations. The research evaluates the thermo–hydraulic performance under various Reynolds numbers, geometric configurations, and working fluid combinations to identify the optimal balance between heat transfer augmentation and pressure drop. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach is employed to model flow behavior, turbulence characteristics, and thermal boundary interactions, using validated numerical methods. The findings show that the incorporation of hybrid nanofluids and specially designed insert rings significantly improves thermal performance while maintaining acceptable friction factor levels. The results highlight the potential of combined passive enhancement techniques to increase system efficiency in renewable energy applications, thermal management systems, and industrial heat exchangers. This work contributes to the growing body of engineering research by providing a detailed performance assessment and proposing design guidelines for next-generation high-efficiency heat exchangers.