Numerical Simulation of Al2O3/Automatic Transmission Fluid and Al2O3/Water Nanofluids in a Compact Heat Exchanger

Mohammed Ismail, Shahram Fotowat, Amir Fartaj
2016 Journal of Fluid Flow Heat and Mass Transfer  
This research presents a numerical study of the effects of nanoparticles on high viscosity fluid as well as low viscosity fluid in heat transfer characteristics. Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) and water based aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanofluids are used in a multiport slab minichannel heat exchanger (MICHX) under laminar flow conditions. The MICHX test specimen with the test section is modelled and solved using a finite volume method based CFD code. Three different concentrations ranges from
more » ... %-3%vol of Al2O3 nanoparticles are considered in this study. Liquids of a steady temperature of 76°C are cooled through a constant air flow rate of 507g/s and temperature of 14°C in a cross-flow orientation. Different mass flux ranging from 300 to 1200 kg/m 2 s are maintained for each volume concentration. The effects of volume fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles on liquid-side heat transfer rate, dimensionless temperature, heat transfer co-efficient, and Nusselt number (Nu) are computed. The numerical results show the enhanced heat transfer coefficient for both Al2O3/ATF and Al2O3/water nanofluids. The enhancement of heat transfer coefficient of Al2O3/water is insignificant with the increase of nanoparticle volume fraction; however, it is significant for Al2O3/ATF nanofluid.
doi:10.11159/jffhmt.2016.005 fatcat:oxi2k7insbb3hjqarfavlcnr3y