Non-Isothermal Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Nanofluid in a Fin-Attached Rotating Tube Bundle

Abstract

In the present study, a novel configuration of a rotating tube bundle was simulated under non-isothermal hydrodynamic conditions using a mixture model. Eight fins were considered in this study, which targeted the hydrodynamics of the system. An aqueous copper nanofluid was used as the heat transfer fluid. Various operating factors, such as rotation speed (up to 500 rad/s), Reynolds number (10–80), and concentration of the nanofluid (0.0–4.0%) were applied, and the performance of the microchannel heat exchanger was assessed. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient of the system could be enhanced by increasing the Reynolds number, the concentration of the nanofluid, and the rotation speed. The maximum enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) was 258% after adding a 4% volumetric nanoparticle concentration to the base fluid and increasing Re from 10 to 80 and ω from 0 to 500 rad/s. Furthermore, at Re = 80 and ω = 500 rad/s, the HTC values measured for the nanofluid were 42.3% higher than those calculated for water, showing the nanoparticles’ positive impact on the heat transfer paradigm. Moreover, it was identified that copper nanoparticles’ presence had no significant effect on the system’s pressure drop. This was attributed to the interaction of the fluid flow and circulated flow around the tubes. Finally, the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop had no considerable changes when augmenting the rotation speed at high Reynolds numbers.