Experimental study of forced convective heat transfer from a vertical tube conveying dilute Ag/DI water nanofluids in a cross flow of air

Abstract

Forced convective heat transfer from a vertical circular tube conveying deionized (DI) water or very dilute Ag-DI water nanofluids (less than 0.02% volume fraction) in a cross flow of air has been investigated experimentally. Some experiments have been performed in a wind tunnel and heat transfer characteristics such as thermal conductance, effectiveness, and external Nusselt number has been measured at different air speeds, liquid flow rates, and nanoparticle concentrations. The cross flow of air over the tube and the liquid flow in the tube were turbulent in all cases. The experimental results have been compared and it has been found that suspending Ag nanoparticles in the base fluid increases thermal conductance, external Nusselt number, and effectiveness. Furthermore, by increasing the external Reynolds number, the external Nusselt number, effectiveness, and thermal conductance increase. Also, by increasing internal Reynolds number, the thermal conductance and external Nusselt number enhance while the effectiveness decreases.