Effect of nanofluid thermophysical properties on the performance prediction of single-phase natural circulation loops

Abstract

Specifying nanofluids' thermophysical properties correctly is crucial for correct interpretation of a system's thermo-hydraulic performance and faster market-uptake of nanofluids. Although, experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted on nanofluids' thermophysical properties; their order-of-magnitude change is still a matter of debate. This numerical study aims to reveal the sensitivity of single phase natural circulation loops (SPNCL), which are the passive systems widely used in solar thermal and nuclear applications, to thermophysical property inputs by evaluating the effects of measured and predicted nanofluid thermophysical properties on the SPNCL characteristics and performance for the first time. Performance and characteristics of an SPNCL working with water-based-Al2O3 nanofluid (1-3 vol.%) for heating applications is evaluated for different pipe diameters (3-6 mm). The thermal conductivity effect on SPNCL characteristics is found to be limited. However, viscosity affects the SPNCL characteristics significantly for the investigated cases. In this study, Grm ranges are 1.93 ± 107-9.45 ± 108 for measured thermophysical properties and 1.93 ± 107-9.45 ± 108 for predicted thermophysical properties. Thermo-hydraulic performance is evaluated by dimensionless heat transfer coefficients which is predicted within an error band of ±7% for both the predicted and measured thermophysical properties of the data. A Nu correlation is introduced for the investigated SPNCL model, which is useful for implementing the SPNCL into a thermal system.