Numerical Investigation of Copper-Water Nanofluid in a Parallel Plate Channel

ABSTRACT: Heat transfer behavior of Cu-water nanofluid in a two dimensional (infinite depth) rectangular duct is studied numerically for laminar flow, where the nanofluid has been considered as a Newtonian fluid. The governing continuity, momentum, and energy equations are discretized using finite volume approach and solved using SIMPLE method. The viscosity and thermal conductivity of nanofluid are determined by models proposed by Brinkman and Patel et al. Study has been conducted for a wide range of Reynolds number from 10 to 1500, for solid volume fractions between 0% and 5%. Top and bottom walls are considered for two cases of constant temperature and constant wall heat flux, while results for both uniform and parabolic entrance velocities are considered in each case. It has been observed that the rate of heat transfer increases with increase in solid volume fraction as well as increase in flow rate. Besides, higher heat transfer is observed for uniform entrance velocity compared to channel with parabolic inlet velocity. Keywords: Nanofluid, Rectangular duct, Laminar flow, Newtonian. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………