Measurement of Forced Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient of Low Volume Fraction CuO-PVA Nanofluids under Laminar Flow Condition

Abstract

Experimental investigations of forced convective heat transfer coefficient of CuO-PVA nanofluids under uniform and constant heat flux are reported in this paper. Different nanofluid samples at different volume concentrations (0.05, 0.1 & 0.2%) were prepared by dispersing CuO NPs with an average size of 32.50 nm in 4 wt% PVA solution using ultrasonication and magnetic stirring. The forced convective heat transfer coefficient of the CuO-PVA nanofluids was measured with the help of vertical shell-and-tube heat exchanger where spiral circular copper tube was used. All the experiments were performed under laminar conditions ( Re ≤ 2300). The results under laminar flow conditions showed considerable enhancement of convective heat transfer with the use of nanofluids. There was increase in heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids CuO-PVA when compared with their base fluids. The increase is significant even though the concentration is less.