Three-dimensional analysis of forced convection of Newtonian and non-Newtonian nanofluids through a horizontal pipe using single- and two-phase models

Abstract

In this paper, 3D analysis of forced convection of Newtonian and non-Newtonian nanofluids through a horizontal pipe using single- and two-phase mathematical models is performed. The models include the Newtonian single-phase model, non-Newtonian single-phase model, Newtonian two-phase mixture model and finally non-Newtonian two-phase mixture model. The geometry of the problem is a horizontal pipe that is filled with Al2O3/water nanofluid. The effects of particle volume fraction and the Reynolds number on the heat transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow are examined. Results indicate that for the volume fraction of 0.01, the non-Newtonian mixture model gives more accurate results in comparison with the other models. By increasing the solid volume fraction, the mixture models give a higher heat transfer coefficient in comparison with that of the corresponding single-phase model; however, by comparing the results of Newtonian and the corresponding non-Newtonian models, no meaningful relationship can be obtained. Furthermore, for all the investigated models, the Nusselt number is increased with increasing the Reynolds number.