Numerical Forced Convection Heat Transfer of Nanofluids over Back Facing Step and Through Heated Circular Grooves

Abstract

Backward facing step arrangement is a classical case for fluid dynamics and heat transfer research. It is well characterized and therefore, used for benchmarking. However, ongoing studies reveal that the geometry also provide advantages in industry, especially in combustion and burners. This work utilizes computational fluid dynamics to investigate a specific laminar back facing step flow heat transfer case. Aluminium oxide nano particles are considered as an additive to water base fluid, forming nanofluid with different volumetric concentrations. Laminar flow passes a back facing step and encounters three circular grooves at bottom surface. All surfaces are adiabatic except the grooves. Constant surface temperature applies to the grooves. According to the simulation results, a separation bubble after back facing step and a reattachment point occur. Grooves alter expected wake due to physical and thermal interference. Investigation parameters are nano-particle concentration and Reynolds number. Reynolds number changes between 10 and 250. Nano particle volume fraction percentage changes between 2 and 6 percent. Sectional heating downstream of the step poses interesting heat flux in the presence of Aluminium oxide nano-particle concentrations. There is a pseudo-linear relationship between parameters and heat transfer. Combined effects of enhanced thermal conductivity and secondary flow structures are seen. As expected, thermal convection increases as flow velocity and nano-particle concentrations increase. Heat flux and accordingly Nusselt number are highly affected from Reynolds number since flow structure changes dramatically. Also, direct proportion is seen between nano-particle concentration and enhanced convection.