Performance Comparison of Nanofluids in Laminar Convective Flow Region Through a Channel

Abstract

In this numerical study, the thermal performance of Al2O3–H2O, CuO–H2O, SiC–H2O and TiO2–H2O nanofluids has been analyzed for laminar flow region of a channel which is fully developed. For this purpose, the figure of merit (FOM), power for pumping, Nusselt number enhancement ratio and heat transfer coefficient ratio of base fluid and nanofluids are calculated for constant Reynolds number and (1–5%) volume concentration of four nanofluids. The computational analysis and results show that the FOM is higher for Al2O3–water nanofluid compared to others at constant Reynolds number. On the other hand, the Nusselt number enhancement ratio is higher for CuO–water nanofluid compared to others, and Al2O3–water shows higher enhancement ratio of heat transfer coefficient compared to others, and this is happened because of the higher thermal and physical properties like thermal conductivity, density and viscosity of the Al2O3–water. And at constant heat transfer coefficient, the pumping power has been reduced for all the nanofluids compared to pure water, and Al2O3–water shows more reduction of pumping power compared to other nanofluids.