Experimental heat transfer analysis of Copper oxide nanofluids through a straight tube

Abstract

The presented research work focuses on forced convective heat transfer study carried out experimentally on metal oxide (copper oxide and magnesium oxide) based nanofluids under laminar flow regime inside a straight tube at constant wall temperature condition. Propylene glycol – water mixture in 60:40 weight ratio is used as base fluid in which a measured quantity of CuO/PG-W (0.3 and 0.7vol. %) is added to get working nano fluid. It is found from the obtained results that heat transfer co-efficient of the prepared nano fluid is significantly higher than its base fluid. Maximum rise in Nusselt number is observed for highest volume concentration. The observed hike in both Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient probably resulted from the combined effect of increased effective thermal conductivity of nano fluid, existence of Brownian motion, and random collision between the fluid particles and nanoparticles. From the observed data, empirical correlations are suggested for the prediction of Nusselt number for the above said nanofluids through straight tubes. Different statistical errors are also reported which account for ±8%. The presented experimental study and associated results would help to attain better understanding of the heat transfer behavior of copper oxide based nanofluids with numerous potential applications in the field of heat sinks and cooling of the electronic systems.