Numerical investigation of heat transfer of laminar and turbulent pulsating Al2O3/water nanofluid flow

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the heat transfer of laminar and turbulent pulsating Al203/water nanofluid flow in a two-dimensional channel. In the laminar flow range, with increasing Reynolds number (Re), the velocity gradient is increased. Also, the Nusselt number (Nu) is increased, which causes increase in the overall heat transfer rate. Additionally, in the change of flow regime from laminar to turbulent, average thermal flux and pulsation range are increased. Also, the effect of different percentage of Al2O3/water nanofluid is investigated. The results show that the addition of nanofluids improve thermal performance in channel, but the using of nanofluid causes a pressure drop in the channel.Design/methodology/approachThe pulsatile flow and heat transfer in a two-dimensional channel were investigated.FindingsThe numerical results show that the Al2O3/Water nanofluid has a significant effect on the thermal properties of the different flows (laminar and turbulent) and the average thermal flux and pulsation ranges are increased in the change of flow regime from laminar to turbulent. Also, the addition of nanofluid improves thermal performance in channels.Originality/valueThe originality of this work lies in proposing a numerical analysis of heat transfer of pulsating Al2O3/Water nanofluid flow -with different percentages- in the two-dimensional channel while the flow regime change from laminar to turbulent.