The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering
An Experimental Investigation on Heat Transfer Enhancement Using Al2O3 Nanofluid in Circular Tube with Tight Spring Insert

Article Details
Pub. Date :Nov, 2019
Product Name : The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Product Type : Article
Product Code : IJME11911
Author Name : Parinam Anuradha, Harendra Kumar, Ramandeep and Sachin Raghav
Availability : YES
Subject/Domain : Engineering
Download Format : PDF Format
No. of Pages : 15

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Abstract

The paper investigates the thermal properties of Al2O3 water-based nanofluid in a circular copper tube fitted with tight spring insert. The nanoparticles were dispersed in distilled water. Thermal conductivity, Nusselt number, force convection heat transfer coefficient, viscosity, pressure drop and friction factor at different particle volume fractions (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%) were analyzed. The heat transfer test section was fabricated to supply constant heat flux. The results showed that Nusselt number continuously increased with the volume fraction and temperature of the nanofluids. However, the friction factor was found to be minimum at a volume fraction of 1.0 vol.%. The Nusselt number of nanofluid was approximately 43.2% greater than that of the base fluid at a volume fraction of 1.0% vol.


Description

A lot of industrial processes involve the transfer of heat by means of a flowing fluid in either the turbulent or laminar regime. The processes cover a wide range of temperatures and pressures. These applications would benefit from minimizing the thermal resistance of the coolant. This situation would lead to smaller heat transfer systems, improving energy efficiency and reducing investment costs. Nanofluids have the potential to minimize these thermal resistances, and the industries that could benefit from such improved heat transfer fluids are very much varied. Lee and Mudawar (2007) studied the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Four combinations of nanoparticles were used to calculate the thermal conductivity of nanofluids, i.e., CuO in water, CuO in ethylene glycol, Al2O3 in ethylene glycol and Al2O3 in water, which showed that nanofluid has greater thermal conductivity than the base fluid. The thermal conductivity of CuO ethylene glycol-based nanofluid was 20% greater than base fluid at 4% volume concentration. The thermal conductivity ratios improved with an increase in volume fraction. The experimental results proved that the thermal conductivity of nanofluids was dependent on the thermal conductivity of both the particles and the base fluids.


Keywords

Friction factor, Pressure drop, Particle volume fraction, Heat transfer, Heat transfer coefficient, Spring, Circular tube