Numerical simulation on performance evaluation among metal and oxide based nanofluids for power savings application of a circular tube

The advancement of heat transfer techniques is a challenge to the researcher in this era. Implementation of nanotechnology is one of the potential techniques which enhance the heat transfer rate in a significant amount. Subsequently, nanotechnology can reduce the requirement of pumping power. However, suspension of nanoparticle with liquid to produce a new working fluid called nanofluid which has better thermal and fluid dynamic properties in comparison to pure liquid is introduced as a typical nanotechnology technique in the heat transfer area. In this study, the thermal performance of two categories of nanofluids metal-based (Cu-water and Ag-water) and oxide-based (Al2O3-water, CuO-water, BeO-water) with 1–5% volume fractions have been analysed for the laminar flow region of a circular tube which is fully developed under 2D control volume finite element method. The heat transfer was analysed for a range of Reynolds numbers from 100 to 1000 with a constant heat flux of 500 W/m2 applied on the tube wall. For evaluating the performance among nanofluids, the Figure of Merits (FOM), pumping power, Nusselt number enhancement ratio, and heat transfer coefficient ratio of the base fluid and nanofluids have been calculated and compared. The computational results show that in terms of Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient, all nanofluids provide higher enhancement compared to pure water. Meanwhile, for this higher enhancement, nanofluids required significantly power pumping power in comparison to pure water. However, the power has been saved 86.26% for Ag-water nanofluid, 72.84% for Cu-water, 42.36% for CuO-water, 40.99% for Al2O3-water, and 26.58% for BeO-water. Between the mentioned two categories of nanofluids, metal-based nanofluids provide the highest heat transfer enhancement and lowest pumping power requirement compared to oxide-based because of their higher thermal conductivity and other fluid and thermal properties. For clearing the enhancement of heat transfer rate over-pumping power, a dimensionless number FOM has been calculated whereas metal-based nanofluids provide the highest value of FOM (1.863 for Ag-water nanofluid) in comparison to oxide-based (1.266 for BeO-water). In the meantime, the comparison between nanofluids also reveals that among all the nanofluids, metal-based Ag-water nanofluids provide the highest heat transfer enhancement and oxide-based BeO-water provide the lowest heat transfer enhancement in terms of pumping power requirements. Lastly, the study concluded that suspension of metal-based nanoparticles with base fluid has better capability to save pumping power (86.26% for Ag-water nanofluid) by providing the highest enhancement of heat transfer rate whereas oxide-based nanoparticles show the lowest capability to save pumping power (26.58% for BeO-water) compared to the base fluid.

___

  • [1] Saha G, Paul MC. Numerical analysis of the heat transfer behaviour of water based Al2O3 and TiO2 nanofluids in a circular pipe under the turbulent flow condition. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2014; 56:96-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2014.06.008
  • [2] Duangthongsuk W, Wongwises S. An experimental study on the heat transfer performance and pressure drop of TiO2-water nanofluids flowing under a turbulent flow regime. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2010; 53(1-3):334-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2009.09.024
  • [3] Minea AA. Numerical studies on heat transfer enhancement and synergy analysis on few metal oxide water based nanofluids. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2015; 89:1207-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2015.06.039
  • [4] Rea U, McKrell T, Hu LW, Buongiorno J. Laminar convective heat transfer and viscous pressure loss of alumina–water and zirconia–water nanofluids. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2009; 52(7-8):2042-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2008.10.025
  • [5] Heris SZ, Etemad SG, Esfahany MN. Experimental investigation of oxide nanofluids laminar flow convective heat transfer. International communications in heat and mass transfer 2006; 33(4):529-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2006.01.005
  • [6] Yu W, France DM, Smith DS, Singh D, Timofeeva EV, Routbort JL. Heat transfer to a silicon carbide/water nanofluid. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2009; 52(15-16):3606-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2009.02.036
  • [7] Yu L, Liu D. Study of the thermal effectiveness of laminar forced convection of nanofluids for liquid cooling applications. IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology 2013; 3(10):1693-704. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCPMT.2013.2265261
  • [8] Sarkar J. Performance of nanofluid-cooled shell and tube gas cooler in transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems. Applied Thermal Engineering 2011; 31(14-15):2541-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng. 2011.04.019
  • [9] Ehsan MM, Noor S, Salehin S, Islam AS. Application of nanofluid in heat exchangers for energy savings. Thermofluid modeling for energy efficiency applications 2016:73-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802397-6.00004-X
  • [10] Ingole PA, Shinde SM, Patil PA. Experimental Investigation of Pumping Power and Effectiveness of Car Radiator Using Al2O3. International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication 2017, 5(6):135-141.
  • [11] Hatton AP, Turton JS. Heat transfer in the thermal entry length with laminar flow between parallel walls at unequal temperatures. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 1962; 5(7):673-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0017-9310(62)90090-X
  • [12] Al-Kouz W, Al-Waked R, Sari ME, Owhaib W, Atieh A. Numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in the entrance region for low-pressure gaseous laminar pipe flows using Al2O3–air nanofluid. Advances in Mechanical Engineering 2018; 10(7):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814018784410
  • [13] Karimzadehkhouei M, Sadaghiani AK, Motezakker AR, Akgönül S, Ozbey A, Şendur K, Mengüç MP, Koşar A. Experimental and numerical investigation of inlet temperature effect on convective heat transfer of γ-Al2O3/Water nanofluid flows in microtubes. Heat Transfer Engineering 2019; 40(9-10):738-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/01457632.2018.1442305
  • [14] Singh P, Oberoi AS, Nijhawan P. Experimental heat transfer analysis of Copper oxide nanofluids through a straight tube. International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering 2019; 8(3):495-500. https://doi.org/10.30534/ijatcse/2019/24832019
  • [15] Iyahraja S, Sivasankar P, Subash S. Investigation on convective heat transfer and friction factor of silver–water nanofluid under laminar flow–an experimental study. Heat and Mass Transfer 2019; 55(10):3029-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-019-02640-y
  • [16] Rabby MI, Hasan ME, Amin AA, Islam AS. Laminar convective heat transfer in developing region of a pipe by using nanofluids. AIP Conference Proceedings 2019; 2121(1):070014. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5115921
  • [17] He W, Toghraie D, Lotfipour A, Pourfattah F, Karimipour A, Afrand M. Effect of twisted-tape inserts and nanofluid on flow field and heat transfer characteristics in a tube. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2020; 110:104440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2019.104440
  • [18] Kapıcıoğlu A, Esen H. Experimental investigation on using Al2O3/ethylene glycol-water nano-fluid in different types of horizontal ground heat exchangers. Applied Thermal Engineering 2020; 165:114559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114559
  • [19] Kaya H, Ekiciler R, Arslan K. CFD analysis of laminar forced convective heat transfer for TiO2/Water nanofluid in a semi-circular cross-sectioned micro-channel. Journal of Thermal Engineering 2019; 5(3):123-37. https://doi.org/10.18186/thermal.540043
  • [20] Ekiciler R, Aydeniz E, Arslan K. A CFD investigation of Al2O3/water flow in a duct having backward-facing step. Journal of Thermal Engineering 2019; 5(1):31-41. https:doi.org/10.18186/thermal.512999
  • [21] Hussein AK, Ahmed SE, Mohammed HA, Khan WA. Mixed convection of water-based nanofluids in a rectangular inclined lid-driven cavity partially heated from its left side wall. Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience 2013; 10(9):2222-33. https://doi.org/10.1166/jctn.2013.3191
  • [22] Mohammed HA, Al-Aswadi AA, Abu-Mulaweh HI, Hussein AK, Kanna PR. Mixed convection over a backward-facing step in a vertical duct using nanofluids—buoyancy opposing case. Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience 2014; 11(3):860-72. https://doi.org/10.1166/jctn.2014.3339
  • [23] Ahmed SE, Mansour MA, Hussein AK, Sivasankaran S. Mixed convection from a discrete heat source in enclosures with two adjacent moving walls and filled with micropolar nanofluids. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 2016; 19(1):364-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2015.08.005
  • [24] Kareem AK, Mohammed HA, Hussein AK, Gao S. Numerical investigation of mixed convection heat transfer of nanofluids in a lid-driven trapezoidal cavity. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2016; 77:195-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2016.08.010
  • [25] Al-Rashed AA, Kalidasan K, Kolsi L, Velkennedy R, Aydi A, Hussein AK, Malekshah EH. Mixed convection and entropy generation in a nanofluid filled cubical open cavity with a central isothermal block. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences 2018; 135:362-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci. 2017.11.033
  • [26] Ahmed SE, Hussein AK, Mansour MA, Raizah ZA, Zhang X. MHD mixed convection in trapezoidal enclosures filled with micropolar nanofluids. Nanoscience and Technology: An International Journal 2018; 9(4):343-372. https://doi.org/10.1615/NanoSciTechnolIntJ.2018026118
  • [27] Al-Rashed AA, Kalidasan K, Kolsi L, Aydi A, Malekshah EH, Hussein AK, Kanna PR. Three-dimensional investigation of the effects of external magnetic field inclination on laminar natural convection heat transfer in CNT–water nanofluid filled cavity. Journal of molecular liquids 2018; 252:454-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.01.006
  • [28] Pordanjani AH, Aghakhani S, Afrand M, Mahmoudi B, Mahian O, Wongwises S. An updated review on application of nanofluids in heat exchangers for saving energy. Energy Conversion and Management 2019; 198:111886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.111886
  • [29] Mashayekhi R, Arasteh H, Toghraie D, Motaharpour SH, Keshmiri A, Afrand M. Heat transfer enhancement of Water-Al2O3 nanofluid in an oval channel equipped with two rows of twisted conical strip inserts in various directions: A two-phase approach. Computers & Mathematics with Applications 2019; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.camwa.2019.10.024
  • [30] Qi C, Liu M, Tang J. Influence of triangle tube structure with twisted tape on the thermo-hydraulic performance of nanofluids in heat-exchange system based on thermal and exergy efficiency. Energy conversion and management 2019; 192:243-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.04.047
  • [31] Sajid MU, Ali HM. Recent advances in application of nanofluids in heat transfer devices: a critical review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2019; 103:556-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.12.057
  • [32] Mahian O, Kolsi L, Amani M, Estellé P, Ahmadi G, Kleinstreuer C, Marshall JS, Siavashi M, Taylor RA, Niazmand H, Wongwises S. Recent advances in modeling and simulation of nanofluid flows-Part I: Fundamentals and theory. Physics reports 2019; 790:1-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physrep.2018.11.004
  • [33] Maı̈ga SE, Nguyen CT, Galanis N, Roy G. Heat transfer behaviors of nanofluids in a uniformly heated tube. Superlattices and Microstructures 2004; 35(3-6):543-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2003.09.012
  • [34] Chen H, Ding Y, He Y, Tan C. Rheological behaviour of ethylene glycol based titania nanofluids. Chemical physics letters 2007; 444(4-6):333-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2007.07.046
  • [35] Xuan Y, Roetzel W. Conceptions for heat transfer correlation of nanofluids. International Journal of heat and Mass transfer 2000; 43(19):3701-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(99)00369-5
  • [36] Pak BC, Cho Y. Hydrodynamic and heat transfer study of dispersed fluid with submicron based Al2O3 and CuO nanofluids in a triangular duct. J. Disper. Sci. Technol. 2013; 34:1368-75.
  • [37] Shah RK, London AL. Laminar flow forced convection in ducts. Supplement 1 to Advances in Heat Transfer. New York: Academic Press; 1978.
  • [38] Chand R, Rana GC, Hussein AK. On the onsetof thermal instability in a low Prandtl number nanofluid layer in a porous medium. Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics 2015; 8(2):265-72. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.jafm.67.221.22830
  • [39] Kasmani RM, Sivasankaran S, Bhuvaneswari M, Hussein AK. Analytical and numerical study on convection of nanofluid past a moving wedge with Soret and Dufour effects. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow 2017; 27(10):2333-2354. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-07-2016-0277
  • [40] Rabby MI, Amin SS, Rahman S, Hossain F, Shahriar MA, Islam AS. Performance Comparison of Nanofluids in Laminar Convective Flow Region through a Channel. Advances in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering 2020; Springer, Singapore: 511-523. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1307-7_58
  • [41] Hussein AK, Mustafa AW. Natural convection in a parabolic enclosure with an internal vertical heat source filled with Cu–water nanofluid. Heat Transfer—Asian Research 2018; 47(2):320-36. https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.21305
  • [42] Wen D, Lin G, Vafaei S, Zhang K. Review of nanofluids for heat transfer applications. Particuology 2009; 7(2):141-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2009.01.007
  • [43] Corcione, M. Heat transfer features of buoyancy-driven nanofluids inside rectangular enclosures differentially heated at the sidewalls. International Journal of Thermal Sciences 2010; 49(9):1536-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2010.05.005
  • [44] Belhadj A, Bouchenafa R, Saim R. Numerical investigation of forced convection of nanofluid in microchannels heat sinks. Journal of Thermal Engineering 2018; 4(5):2263-2273. https://doi.org/10.18186/thermal.438480