A CFD investigation of Al2O3water flow in a duct having backward facing step

Abstract

Al2O3water forced convection nanofluid flow was numerically studied in a duct with backward facing step. Nanoparticle volume fraction was changed between 5%. Diameter of nanoparticle was constant (dp=40 nm). The Reynolds number was increased from 100 to 500. The step and total height of the duct were 4.8 mm and 9.6 mm, respectively. The bottom wall, which was positioned after the step, was heated with 2000 W/m2 and the rest of the walls were adiabatic. Nusselt number, velocity profiles and friction factor were investigated in detail. It was obtained that Nusselt number increases with increasing nanoparticle volume fraction and Reynolds number.