Heat transfer, exergoeconomic performance and sustainability impact of a novel CuO + MgO + GO/Water ternary nanofluid

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental investigation of heat transport, exergy, economic, sustainability, and environmental impact of a ternary nanofluid applied in a circular conduit under 5.36 kW/m2 constant heat flux boundary condition. The experiments are undertaken in fully developed turbulent flow with a Reynolds number range of 12,500–35,000. A stable ternary nanofluid is prepared by dispersing MgO, CuO and GO (graphene oxide) nanopowders into water in the presence of GA (Gum Arabic) surfactant applying ultrasonication. The nanopowder concentration is varied by 0.10, 0.30 and 0.50 wt%. The thermal conductivity with 0.50 wt% is the highest and 24.23 % greater than the value with water. The maximum Nusselt number, which is abnormally 148.23 % greater than water, is obtained with 0.50 wt%. The friction factor of nanofluid gradually decreases with increasing Reynolds number and they are average 3 % higher than water. Ternary nanofluid with 0.5 wt% and 0.30 wt% delivers the highest energy and exergy efficiencies of 96.51 % and 59.68 % respectively at 35,000 Reynolds number. The cost of exergy destruction is reduced by ternary nanofluid application. The analysis of improvement potential (IP) demonstrates the advantage of ternary nanofluid over water. Further, the result depicts that the use of ternary nanofluid can increase sustainability up to 81.10 % and reduces the harmful impact of energy loss on the environment maximum by 52.32 %. Finally, the authors recommend ternary nanofluids as working fluids for future heat transfer and energy applications.