Thermal Transfer Study of a Non-Newtonian Nanofluid Behavior in a Microduct

Abstract

In this study, laminar flow forced convection heat transfer of a non-Newtonian nanofluid flowing inside a Micro conduit that is subjected to a constant wall temperature was investigated. By considering the effect of viscous dissipation. The effects of Brinkman numbers (Br), power low index (n) and nanoparticle concentrations (φ) on the developing temperature fields and the local Nusselt number were examined. The obtained results were validated with available solutions for the special cases of conventional fluids (φ = 0) and non-viscous dissipation effect (Br = 0). Bulk temperature distribution and local Nusselt number are presented graphically for Br = 0, 0.5, 1, -0.5 and 1 for non-Newtonian fluids described by the power-law model with the flow index n = 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0. The Nusselt numbers of nanofluids were obtained for different Al2O3 nanoparticle concentrations as well as various Brinkman numbers.