Heat Transfer Performance and Flow Dynamics of Al2O3/Water Nanofluid in Turbulent Regime

Abstract

Rapid heat transfer is one of the major concerns in the growing engineering disciplines. Nanofluid has added a new dimension to rapid heat transfer because of its improved thermophysical properties. In this current investigation, investigation was carried out for 0.1% and 0.2% Al2O3/Water nanofluid in turbulent flow. Constant heat flux was supplied in the test section tube with the help of nichrome resistance wire which was spirally winded uniformly on the test section tube. The investigation reveals that the heat transfer coefficient and dimensionless Nusselt number enhance for Al2O3/water nanofluid than water as the working fluid. Heat transfer coefficient also improves with the increase in volume fraction of nanoparticles though the stability of nanofluid decreases. Nusselt number increases by 33.46% for 0.1% Al2O3/water nanofluid compared to water. Conversely, the Nusselt number increases by 57.01% for 0.2% Al2O3/water nanofluid compared to water. A higher thermal performance factor was found for a higher volume fraction of nanoparticles. Friction factor and pumping power per unit length also increase with the increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles. It was concluded that Al2O3/water nanofluid with a higher volume fraction of nanoparticles gives a higher heat transfer rate for the same pumping power per unit length than water as a working fluid.