Simulation of Convective Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Laminar Flow of Al2O3/water and CuO/water Nanofluids Through Square and Triangular Cross-Sectional Ducts

Abstract

In this study, the convective heat transfer and pressure drop in laminar flow of Al2O3/water and CuO/water nanofluids through square and triangular cross-sectional ducts have been numerically investigated using new technique. It has been assumed that there is constant heat flux boundary condition at walls. In addition, to include the presence of nanoparticles, the dispersion model has been used, and the system was solved numerically. Results show that by increasing the volumetric concentration and decreasing the size of nanoparticles, Nusselt number has been enhanced. Also, the Nusselt number increases by increasing the Reynolds number. In all cases, it has been observed that heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid increases in comparison with heat transfer coefficient of pure water. The results show that by adding nanoparticles, pressure drop increases in ducts. In square and triangular ducts, pressure drop is higher when we use CuO/water nanofluid instead of Al2O3/water nanofluid. In the same way, pressure drop increases by increase of faces of non-circular ducts.