Keywords

Abstract

Nanofluid,

Heat transfer,

Pressure drop,

Turbulent flow

This study presents a numerical investigation of volume fraction effect of water based hybrid CuO-SiO₂ nanofluid in a horizontal tube on thermal performance. Uniform heat flux was applied onto the outer surface of the test tube. Fully developed turbulent flow was ensured with adjusting solution domain. k-epsilon turbulent model was chosen to simulate turbulent flow, and analyses were implemented for Reynolds number ranging from 10,000 to 50,000. The nanofluid flow was assumed as single phase, and properties of nanoparticles and water are concerned as independent in temperature. Thermo-physical properties of nanofluid were calculated with commonly used equations and correlations in literature. Nanoparticle volume fractions in water were employed as 5, 4, 3, and 2% in which each volume fraction is different value of CuO and SiO₂. As a result, since CuO is more effective thermal properties than SiO₂, it is observed that greater volume fraction of CuO than SiO₂ shows better heat transfer performance. Moreover, the highest Nusselt number is obtained for 1%CuO-4%SiO₂ water based nanofluid for Reynolds number of 50,000. However, due to better hydraulic properties of SiO₂ than CuO, the higher volume fraction of SiO₂ compared to CuO, the higher thermo-hydraulic performance was obtained.

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