A numerical analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of ZnO-Ethylene glycol nanofluid in rectangular microchannels

Abstract

The fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of ZnO-Ethylene glycol (EG) nanofluid through rectangular microchannels having different aspect ratios (α is 1 to 2) are numerically investigated. The different nanoparticle volume percentages (φ is 1 % to 4 %) of ZnO-EG nanofluid are used. The flow is considered under single-phase, three-dimensional, steady-state, incompressible, thermally developing, laminar flow conditions. As a result, the microchannel with an aspect ratio value of 1 has the highest convection heat transfer coefficient and the lowest pressure drop. It is also observed that the convection heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop increases with an increase in nanoparticle volume fraction value of nanofluid. However, the Nusselt number decreases with increasing nanoparticle volume fraction, while the Darcy friction factor is not affected.